Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has revealed that more than 104 criminal gangs are operating across the country, many allegedly under the protection of political actors, as concerns grow over a surge in violence linked to organised groups.
Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security on Tuesday, Murkomen said the gangs are increasingly being used to mobilise and intimidate, warning that their activities pose a serious threat to national stability.
“The gangs are owned by political leaders who play a significant role in mobilising people. It is chaotic. An irresponsible leader is a threat to national security,” he told lawmakers, without naming those involved.
His remarks come against the backdrop of recent incidents in Nairobi and other towns where groups commonly referred to as “goons” have been linked to violence, particularly during protests and political gatherings.
In the latest crackdown, police arrested at least 84 suspected gang members in Nairobi and impounded over 190 motorbikes believed to have been used to coordinate attacks and movement of suspects across the city.
Human rights organisations have also raised alarm over what they describe as a growing pattern of organised attacks.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission recently cited incidents in areas including Kikuyu, Roysambu, Kisumu and Kitale, where armed groups disrupted political meetings and public activities.
Murkomen further claimed that some leaders are deliberately recruiting young people into such groups to cause chaos.
“The greatest threat to our national security is not from slums or young people, but leaders who recruit goons to terrorise citizens,” he said in a separate briefing.
The CS also criticised the Judiciary for releasing suspects linked to gang activities, arguing that it allows repeat offences and sustains cycles of violence.
“They return to society and the cycle of violence continues,” he said.
He added that police operations are often undermined by external interference, revealing that officers have complained of abrupt transfers after initiating crackdowns.
“You carry out a serious intervention and the next minute a phone call comes from Nairobi and you are transferred,” he said.
With security agencies intensifying operations nationwide, Murkomen maintained that the government is committed to dismantling criminal networks amid fears that the trend could escalate as political activity increases.