PS Terry Mbaika warns politicians against goonism, urges calm as political tensions rise
By Faustine Kameti, April 12, 2026Principal Secretary for Aviation, Terry Mbaika, has urged political leaders to exercise restraint and embrace issue-based politics to foster a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.
Terry Mbaika cautioned politicians against engaging in acts of violence or using hired goons to intimidate their opponents, emphasising the need for peaceful and respectful political engagement.
Speaking during a meeting with residents of Kaiti at Kikoko Shopping Centre in Makueni County on Sunday, April 12, 2026, the PS challenged leaders to let their development track record speak for itself. She also encouraged young politicians to champion unity, integrity, and responsible leadership.
“I saw another politician lecturing the president. We are young; we have a long way to go, and you cannot burn bridges, but you can only build more because you don’t know what will come tomorrow,” she said.
Murkomen warns against goons
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had earlier sounded an 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.
“Nearly every political player in Western Kenya has goons or gangs, and this incentivises the growth and proliferation of goons,” he stated.
According to the CS, 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 are 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 to 200 to 500 depending, the same with county leaders from 500 to 2000. This has made goonism and gangs’ business 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.