Siasa Place Executive Director Nerima Wako Ojiwa has called on authorities to move against political actors who organise, fund or take part in violence, warning that failure to hold them accountable could make goonism a normal part of Kenya’s electoral politics.
Wako said action against political violence should begin months before the 2027 elections instead of waiting for perpetrators to appear on the ballot or for violence to erupt during campaigns.
Speaking during a Radio Generation interview on Wednesday, she said authorities must show that people involved in political violence will face consequences, including those who operate behind the scenes by financing or organising groups used to intimidate opponents.
“What I wanted to hear very loudly was that people who are involved in violence are going to pay. They are going to be held accountable. We had it, but it was not strong enough for me when IEBC said that they are not going to be allowed to vie,” she said.
Wako said accountability should not be limited to candidates who may later be barred from contesting elections, arguing that investigations should start immediately against people suspected of organising or funding violence.
“But I feel like, no, no, no. If we shouldn't even get to the ballot yet, it should be now. Like, we should be able to trace this now. We should be able to see faces or heads rolling now.”
She said the focus should be on identifying the people behind political violence rather than dealing only with those sent to carry out attacks or disrupt political activities.
Her remarks come as Kenya continues to deal with a long history of election-related violence, with the 2007-08 post-election crisis remaining the most serious case in the country’s recent political history.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights estimated that about 1,500 people were killed and more than 600,000 displaced during the 2007-08 post-election violence.
Violence has also been recorded during more recent elections. KNCHR documented 99 deaths linked to the 2017 election cycle, compared with seven cases of loss of life during the 2022 election cycle.
The seven deaths recorded in 2022 were reported in Kisii, West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, Kisumu, Bungoma and Nairobi counties.
During the 2022 election period, KNCHR also recorded 33 cases of violence involving polling centres and election officials. The incidents included clashes between political groups, use of firearms, physical attacks and destruction of election materials.
Wako said the country cannot wait until the 2027 election period to begin addressing the problem, calling for visible action in the months ahead.
“I believe that we need to start to see some semblance of action in the next few months before we go for Christmas,” she added.
The Siasa Place Executive Director questioned why enforcement efforts often end with people who are directly involved in violence while those who provide money, organise groups or coordinate the activities remain untouched.
She said arresting low-level perpetrators would not be enough to break the networks behind political goonism, insisting that authorities must follow the trail to those who make the activities possible.
Wako also raised concern over the growing perception among some young people that political goonism can provide a quick source of income at a time when legitimate opportunities remain limited.
She said payments offered to young people to take part in political violence could make the practice more attractive, especially when those involved appear to gain money, influence or political positions.
According to Wako, some young people may accept such payments because they view political violence as one of the few immediate ways of making money.
She warned that continued growth of political goonism could make future elections more dangerous and costly, particularly for women, young people and persons with disabilities.
Wako said accountability must therefore extend beyond those seen carrying out violence to the wider networks that recruit, finance and direct them.
Kenya’s previous elections have also shown the wider impact of political violence. During the 2017 election period, KNCHR documented 201 cases of sexual violence linked to electoral conflict, with women making up 96.26 percent of the survivors recorded.
The organisation has also previously pointed to youth mobilisation and economic vulnerability as factors that can leave young people open to political manipulation and involvement in violence.
Wako’s remarks put early action and accountability at the centre of preparations for the 2027 elections, with her argument that authorities need to deal with both the people involved in violence on the ground and those who finance, organise and support them.