Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has sounded the alarm on the rise of political goonism in Western Kenya, warning that the practice has become a deeply entrenched part of the region’s politics.

Speaking during the 36th Jukwaa la Usalama in Kakamega on September 5, 2025, Murkomen said the scale of the problem is staggering. “Nearly every political player in Western Kenya has goons or gangs, and this incentivises the growth and proliferation of goons,” he noted.

According to him, leaders from Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) to Members of Parliament (MPs) and county officials have come to rely on gangs as an extension of their political power.

“The goonism and gangism is perpetuated by political interest… an MCA has around a hundred people that they walk around with and call their gangs, the scale goes up from MPs up to 200 to 500 depending, the same with county leaders from 500 to 2000. This has made goonism and gangs business to become very prevalent because it is paying with a stipend anytime there is an event around weekends,” Murkomen explained.

He added that the culture has spread across Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega, and Kitale, unlike in other regions where goonism remains largely confined to urban areas.

Drugs, culture menace

The CS linked the persistence of gangs to social and cultural factors, pointing to the normalisation of drug use and illicit activities in the region. “The biggest challenge in Western… it is the prevalence of goons and gangs everywhere,” he observed.

Murkomen said the gangs are often mobilised to attend political functions, including funerals, where their presence not only intimidates opponents but also turns into a profitable activity for jobless youth. This cycle, he warned, is undermining peace and development in Western Kenya.

Call for dialogue

To curb the menace, Murkomen announced a multi-agency operation in Bungoma targeting political gangs, land fraud cartels, and illicit alcohol distributors. He stressed that the crackdown is politically neutral and aimed at safeguarding communities and natural ecosystems such as Mount Elgon National Park.

At the same time, he urged leaders to take responsibility. “If we have to dismantle the goons and gangs, we need full cooperation from the elected and aspiring leaders… I would like to come back and have a meeting with all leaders,” he said.

Murkomen’s remarks tie into his wider agenda of police reforms and modernization. He has been championing digitization of services and more inclusive uniforms, including maternity wear, while also addressing rising insecurity in Nairobi, where street children have been linked to muggings. His message was clear: restoring security requires both enforcement and honest political will.