Human rights activists have raised concerns over a video showing men armed with batons patrolling Kericho town ahead of anti-government protests.
A video doing rounds on social media, which has also been shared by local media houses, shows the men in civilian clothes patrolling various streets of the town.
Police action
Activist Hussein Khalid has called on acting Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to explain to Kenyans why the said men whom he has termed as armed and dangerous, have not been arrested.
“Acting IG Kanja of National Police Service, can you please hold a press conference and explain to Kenyans why your officers have not arrested these individuals who are clearly armed and dangerous?” Khalid said in a statement shared via his official X account.
Thank you @citizentvkenya for sharing this. Acting IG Kanja of @NPSOfficial_KE, can you please hold a press conference and explain to Kenyans why your officers have not arrested these individuals who are clearly armed and dangerous? https://t.co/7IiK7woube
— husseinkhalid (@husskhalid) July 16, 2024
Narc-Kenya Party Leader Martha Karua has also shared a photo showing men armed with batons standing next to police officers in a police vehicle.
Karua who is a member of the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition leadership questioned what the police were doing with the goons ahead of the protests.
“What are the police doing with ‘goons’?” she questioned.
What are the police doing with ‘goons’? pic.twitter.com/340wilR62D
— Martha Karua SC (@MarthaKarua) July 16, 2024
Karua also noted that the batons seen with the men in Kericho and Kakamega are similar, questioning on who supplies them to the suspected goons.
Who supplies these rungus which appear similar https://t.co/apETulT0RP
— Martha Karua SC (@MarthaKarua) July 16, 2024
Goons in Kakamega town
Masked men armed with batons have also been recorded patrolling the streets of Kakamega town.
Activist Boniface Mwangi has raised the concerns, claiming that the state seems to have replaced the police with masked goons to intimidate peaceful protesters.
“Here are William Ruto’s and Governor Fernandes Barasa’s Defence Forces in Kakamega. The state has replaced police officers with masked goons to intimidate peaceful protesters. Is the country safe if Zakayo has to outsource protection from goons?” Boniface Mwangi said.
Here are @WilliamsRuto’s @BarasaFernandes Defence Forces in Kakamega. The state has replaced police officers with masked goons to intimidate peaceful protesters. Is the country safe if Zakayo has to outsource protection from goons?https://t.co/HLeGkP3O3x
— The People’s Watchman (@bonifacemwangi) July 16, 2024
Goons infiltrating protests
The government has maintained that goons have been infiltrating the peaceful protests led by Gen Zs, to cause mayhem and destroy property.
Ahead of the Tuesday, July 16, 2024, protests, the police said they had reports about goons planning to interrupt the demonstrations.
After the protesters stormed parliament during the June 25, 2024, deadly protests, President William Ruto termed them as criminals, noting that they were not protesters.