Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja has ordered a nationwide crackdown on criminal gangs, warning that the National Police Service will not tolerate rising cases of organised criminal activity amid the rise of political goonism in the country.

Speaking during a high-level security summit at the National Police Leadership Academy in Ng’ong on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, Kanja directed senior commanders to take immediate and decisive action against gangs that have been resurfacing in parts of the country.

“There will be zero tolerance for criminal gangs and operational negligence. Commanders must act decisively and restore order without delay,” he said.

Tackling dynamic security threats

Addressing the commanders, the Inspector-General commended the senior officers for their relentless efforts in tackling dynamic security threats.

He challenged them to develop efficient and adaptive strategies that maximise the use of available resources to maintain law and order for all Kenyans, residents and visitors.

“He issued a stern warning against the resurgence of criminal gangs and declared a zero-tolerance policy towards operational negligence. He further ordered immediate and decisive action to combat the threat posed by these gangs across the country,” NPS said in a statement.

Kanja challenged commanders to adopt more proactive and intelligence-led approaches to policing, saying the evolving nature of crime required faster adaptation and better use of available resources.

Goons attack at All Saints Cathedral

This comes days after the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen linked the recent attack at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi to what he called rising cases of “goonism” involving actors across the political divide.

In a statement posted on his official X account on Sunday, June 14, 2026, Murkomen said the country remains generally safe and secure, but warned that organised violence by groups hired for disruption is becoming a serious security concern.

“Even as the country remains safe and secure, goonism perpetrated by actors across the political divide continues to pose a challenge, as witnessed in the recent unfortunate incident at All Saints Cathedral,” Murkomen said.

The attack at All Saints Cathedral on June 12, 2026, disrupted a post-budget dialogue meeting organised by civil society groups. CCTV footage later showed groups of claimed attackers storming the church compound in separate waves before forcing their way into the meeting venue.