Questions surrounding the chaotic Ol Kalou by-election intensified on Friday after activist Boniface Mwangi alleged that the masked, armed men who disrupted voting were part of a covert state-linked operation, raising fresh scrutiny over security conduct and accountability.
Mwangi’s remarks come in the wake of widely reported incidents in which hooded and heavily armed individuals, moving in unmarked vehicles, disrupted voting, clashed with residents, and reportedly fired tear gas and live rounds in parts of Ol Kalou.
Mwangi’s Claims
In a social media statement, Mwangi alleged that the masked men seen during the by-election were part of a state-linked covert unit.
“The whole country now knows that Ruto has a private militia drawn from different police units. These are the masked men who have been shooting at protesters… and who were yesterday shooting at Ol Kalou residents and even uniformed police officers,” he claimed.
He further accused senior security officials of complicity, directly naming Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, DCI Director Mohamed Amin, and NIS Director Noordin Haji.
“They have allowed Ruto to use the police like tissue paper, doing dirty work,” Mwangi said.
Call for Public Action
Mwangi urged citizens to take a confrontational stance against unidentified armed individuals operating in civilian clothing.
“We must unmask these men and women. Deny them services, refuse to rent them houses… we shall carry out citizen’s arrests,” he said.
He added that communities should only comply with uniformed and clearly identifiable police officers, warning that any armed individuals in plain clothes would be treated as unlawful actors.
Mwangi also referenced the barricading of roads during the by-election chaos, suggesting it offered a model for resistance.
“Ol Kalou has taught us how to organize and counter goons… we shall barricade our towns and villages,” he stated.
Context of the Chaos
During the by-election, multiple reports indicated that masked men armed with firearms and batons stormed polling areas, dispersing crowds and confronting both civilians and journalists.
Some vehicles linked to the group were described as unmarked SUVs, raising questions about accountability.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) distanced itself from the individuals, stating they were not part of official election security operations.