The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has warned that politically driven violence is making a comeback, cautioning that the country could be heading into a tense and dangerous period ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In a strongly worded statement, Omtatah reflected on his own experience, recalling a 2012 attack in Nairobi where he was seriously injured after opposing the procurement of Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. He described the incident as an attack on accountability.
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The senator said similar patterns are now re-emerging, accusing certain political figures of sponsoring violence to silence critics and stifle open debate. He warned that organized groups are being used to intimidate dissenting voices as the country edges closer to the next election cycle.
Omtatah urged security agencies, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the National Police Service Commission, to act firmly by not only arresting perpetrators on the ground but also pursuing those financing and directing the violence.
He emphasized that Kenya’s democracy must be protected, insisting that elections should be determined through the ballot and not through fear or force.
His remarks come amid rising political tensions and a series of violent incidents linked to political events. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has since directed Inspector General Douglas Kanja to fast-track investigations into increasing cases of politically instigated unrest.
Recent incidents include chaos at a Kikuyu rally associated with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, where clashes and police intervention disrupted the event. Opposition leaders, including Kalonzo Musyoka, have accused authorities of interfering with their activities.
In a separate case, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi was injured in an attack in Kisumu, which he claims was politically motivated. Additional unrest has also been reported in Kakamega during a burial ceremony, where rival groups clashed, leaving several people injured and property destroyed.
Murkomen has blamed some political leaders for fueling the violence, warning that those in positions of power who sponsor such acts pose a serious threat to national security. Meanwhile, opposition figures continue to accuse the government of using security forces and hired groups to disrupt their gatherings.
These incidents have heightened political tensions across the country, with both sides trading accusations over the growing wave of violence at public events.
