Mombasa Activists Condemn Rising Political Goonism, Demand Accountability

Civil society activists from Mombasa, led by Vocal Africa and affiliated groups, on Sunday 12 April 2026, strongly condemned the increasing use of goons by politicians to settle scores with rivals, warning that the trend is undermining democracy and silencing voices of dissent.

Addressing the press at their offices in Mombasa, Walid Sketty, an activist with Vocal Africa, decried the tactic as not only targeting political opponents but also ordinary citizens exercising their constitutional rights.

“It is not only politicians you are trying to silence but also those expressing their rights,” Sketty said. He highlighted incidents where members of political families have been physically attacked, with perpetrators showing little regard for privacy or the rule of law.

Christine Kabuya, an activist from AMKENI, pointed to similar disruptions in other parts of the country. “We’ve seen even in Kitale, those going out to register as voters are disrupted by the very same goons,” she stated. Kabuya accused politicians and some state officials mandated to protect citizens of being directly involved in these criminal acts.

Another activist from Vocal Africa, Kazungu, issued a stern warning to politicians, linking the violence to recurring patterns ahead of election cycles. “We’re warning the politicians that there has been pain and loss of lives. This is anarchy. We’ve seen every president trying to vie for their second term, this kind of violence is seen, and we’re watching,” Kazungu said.

The activists called for immediate arrests and prosecutions of those responsible. “We want all these perpetrators arrested and charged. We’re calling on Kenyans to ensure they are not involved in these matters. Any citizen involved should know they are the enemy of democracy,” they emphasized.

They further urged relevant institutions—including the police, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), and other oversight bodies—to flag all individuals implicated in such violence and bar them from contesting public office.

The condemnation comes amid heightened concerns over political violence following the recent assault on Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi. The senator was attacked by a group of goons at a restaurant in Kisumu, an incident captured on CCTV that has sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice. Osotsi was hospitalized after the assault, which many have linked to his political positions.

Activists described the trend as a dangerous slide into anarchy, where hired thugs are deployed to intimidate voters, disrupt civic processes like voter registration, and suppress criticism.

They appealed to all Kenyans to reject involvement in such acts and stand firm in defence of democratic values.

The press conference reflects growing frustration among human rights defenders over what they see as state and political complicity in the resurgence of goonism, a phenomenon that has historically marred Kenya’s electoral periods. Calls for independent investigations and decisive action from security and electoral agencies continue to mount.