OPANGA: Why political violence thrives when goons go unpunished
This opinion piece argues that political violence in Kenya is perpetuated by the use of hired gangs, or 'goons,' by politicians and state agents. The author contends that the failure to punish these groups has led to a cycle of escalating political thuggery.
Why it matters
It addresses systemic corruption and the erosion of democratic processes through state-sanctioned or state-ignored political violence.
Rented thugs are wreaking mayhem across Kenya. Better known as goons, they have done it before and will do it again. The chaos they cause and the foreboding they foment are par for Kenya’s political course and must be owned by politicians, their parties and agents of the state.
Goon gangs are recruited, paid and operated to harm and ruin individuals, causes and property, by politicians, their parties and agents of the state. Violence against and intimidation of opponents are a goon’s stock in trade in Kenya’s supermarket of political thuggery.
These are enforced by pangas, truncheons, whips (nyahunyo), daggers (njora) and i ron bars. These are offensive weapons, and, therefore, illegal. Indeed, deployment of goons is a poll-rigging strategy. Terrorised and terrified people will stay away from polling booths.
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