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Opposition leaders have strongly condemned what they described as escalating state violence and authoritarian tendencies under President William Ruto’s leadership, following the fatal shooting of five individuals in a land dispute in Kilgoris, Transmara West.
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In a joint statement, key figures including Martha Karua (PLP), Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, and ex-Cabinet Secretaries Justin Muturi, Mithika Linturi, Eugene Wamalwa (DAP-K), and Toreme Saitoti accused the government of using police brutality and intimidation to enforce illegal land takeovers.
“The Kilgoris killings are part of a disturbing trend where the state deploys excessive force to strip citizens of ancestral land,” the leaders said, pointing to what they called a broader campaign of dispossession supported by corrupt officials and rogue security forces.
The dispute involved 6,800 acres of contested land, with witnesses alleging that heavily armed General Service Unit (GSU) officers opened fire on unarmed residents.
“This administration has militarized the police against ordinary citizens,” the statement continued, adding that since 2022, there has been a marked decline in civil liberties and rising impunity within security agencies.
Citing a string of violent land disputes and forced evictions in areas like Mavoko, Ndabibi, and Nairobi, the leaders said the government’s actions amount to a coordinated attack on land rights, which are constitutionally protected under Articles 60, 63, and 64.
The opposition also referenced the recent BBC documentary #BloodParliament, which uncovered alleged extrajudicial killings during anti-government protests in 2024. The documentary suggested some security forces operated under covert shoot-to-kill orders prior to official deployment authorizations.
“These revelations confirm long-held fears: that clandestine death squads operate with state backing,” the statement read, calling for an independent investigative commission involving both government and civil society to probe the abuses. They dismissed current oversight bodies like IPOA and the DPP as ineffective.
Turning to the ongoing recruitment of new IEBC commissioners, the leaders questioned the legitimacy and fairness of the process, warning against political interference.
“The IEBC must serve the Constitution, not the executive. We reject any appointment process that is opaque or manipulated,” they declared, urging the selection panel to consult widely with opposition groups and civil society.
They warned that failure to reach consensus on IEBC appointments could trigger a legitimacy crisis in the 2027 general elections.
Concluding their statement, the opposition vowed to defend the Constitution and civil rights, warning the administration that growing public dissent—captured in the rising #RutoMustGo calls—could lead to political consequences.
“If the regime continues down this path, it won’t be accidental—it will be the first one-term presidency by consequence,” said Gachagua.
