Kenya battles to stop the 'goons and guns' as fears of political violence grow
More than 100 youth gangs operate in Kenya, raising fears of political violence. The country's law and order are deteriorating, with risks of election violence growing.
Gangs in Kenya do not merely commit crime; they are also used as attack forces by political parties during election campaigns. Local politicians arm and pay youth to target opposition rallies. This poses a serious threat ahead of 2027 general elections.
Gang violence has dramatically escalated in major cities like Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu. Though police conduct operations against gangs, resources are insufficient and some police are linked to gangs themselves. High youth unemployment allows gangs to recruit fighters.
This threatens the democratic structure Kenya has built since its 2010 constitution. Once election violence begins, controlling it becomes extremely difficult. International observers warn that Kenya's youth radicalization risks creating broader regional instability. Combined with economic slowdown, social tensions will intensify.
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