Kilifi Youths Call for End of Goonism Culture in Kenya

By Julius Mwabonje

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Kilifi County Orange Democratic Movement youth leaders have called on the government to end the goon culture in the country ahead of next year’s general election.

Naftali Omondi, party youth secretary and People’s Watchman Joseph Chipa, noted that politicians across the political divide to exploit the youth by arming them to cause mayhem and disrupt their opponents’ meetings hence creating fear among Kenyans.

Omondi said that a recent incident in Ganda Ward where local politicians allied to the broad-based government mobilized goons to disrupt addresses of their opponents despite them supporting President William Ruto’s camp was a dangerous move.

“Militarizing our youth in the presence of the police is a very unfortunate position that needs to stop immediately because armed youth will one day turn into militias and harass Kenyans. Using goons to disrupt meetings will not propel the leaders behind them to power,” he said.

Chipa, on his part, urged the youth to be vigilant and desist from the temptations of being lured with a few shillings to get armed and attack or cause havoc in the society based on external forces.

“The youth need to look at the bigger picture and they should not allow themselves to be pawns in the political game. When the politicians finish their agenda, they will dump you and sometimes even after getting you in trouble with the law. There are many youths rotting in jail, some with serious crimes around their necks yet the politicians who incited them to cause chaos and walking freely like nothing happened,” he said.

County Senator Stewart Madzayo condemned the rising goon culture in the country saying that it posed a threat to security and peace especially as the country approached the 2027 polls.

He called for the sacking or resignation of the Inspector General of Police Doglas Kanja and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen saying they were the biggest problem in the whole setup.

“I don’t think it’s fair for the IG to allow his charges to watch goons doing mayhem to Kenyans and they’re not taking any action, then he should be held responsible. I’m calling upon my brother CS Murkomen and IG to put an end to this goonism culture taking root in the country,” he said.

“I know Murkomen is a very capable CS, but with this one, he has done very badly and statements that come from him are very loose that you wonder whether they are coming from the interior CS himself!”

The senator called on politicians to prioritise development projects and job creation for the youth instead of arming them with crude weapons for short term political gains.