Gakuya faults how govt handled goons amid Nairobi insecurity
By Kiprono Keileb, September 9, 2025Embakasi North MP James Gakuya has sharply criticised the government, accusing it of using police protection to unleash goons on the public.
Speaking during a political talk show aired by a local television station on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, Gakuya painted a grim picture of a state that, in his words, is enabling violence and lawlessness in broad daylight.
“The government is in record hiring goons manned by police. This was done during broad daylight, in a clear public watch,” Gakuya said, insisting that the situation represents a dangerous turn in governance.
The legislator argued that citizens have been left exposed as criminals, under the cover of state protection, intimidated, and harassed ordinary Kenyans.
“Goons magging pedestrians in the presence of police, breaking people’s businesses in the presence of police without an action,” he said.
Gakuya expressed outrage at what he termed the state’s deliberate failure to protect the people, warning that such actions erode trust in government institutions and breed instability.
“We can not allow such a government to be in place, a government that is doing negativities,” he declared.
The Embakasi North MP argued that Kenyans expect security agencies to safeguard lives and property, not to be seen as enabling destruction. He said the incidents witnessed recently set a worrying precedent where police presence no longer reassures the public but instead fuels fear.
His remarks come at a time when the role of security agencies in handling protests and political activities has been under intense scrutiny. Civil society groups and opposition leaders have repeatedly raised concerns over police conduct, citing cases of excessive force, unlawful arrests, and failure to protect vulnerable citizens.
By openly confronting the government’s approach, Gakuya positioned himself among leaders calling for accountability in the country’s security operations. His statement underscores a wider frustration among sections of the political class who believe the state has turned security into a weapon against its people rather than a shield of protection.
As debate continues, Gakuya’s comments are likely to ignite further conversation on the balance between maintaining order and protecting rights, as Kenyans grapple with the weight of political tensions and their impact on daily life.