The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
A new TIFA survey has found that President William Ruto, his administration, and the police have been widely blamed for the violence witnessed during anti-government protests.
According to the report, 42 percent of respondents attributed protest-related violence to the President and the national government, while 24 percent pointed the finger at the national police. A further 12 percent blamed political leaders, 9 percent blamed protesters themselves, and 6 percent attributed the violence to unemployed youth or Gen-Z demonstrators.
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TIFA notes that these findings place primary accountability on the State — an accusation the government has consistently denied.
Despite the violence concerns, 82 percent of respondents expressed support for peaceful and lawful demonstrations, affirming protests as a legitimate avenue for public expression.
The government has faced accusations of enabling a nationwide wave of hired goons since 2024, when Kenyans — mostly youth — began taking to the streets to demand better governance. Politicians have reportedly hired armed thugs for as little as Sh500 a day to disrupt rallies held by political rivals, target protesters, and attack civil rights groups, often with police allegedly turning a blind eye.
A recent study by Nairobi-based research firm Odipo Dev found that the going rate for hiring goons ranges from Sh500 to Sh1,000, with rates reportedly set by Members of Parliament. One such confession emerged following an attack at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi in June 2026, where a group of rowdy youths stormed a meeting linked to opposition figure Rigathi Gachagua.
Speaking to Citizen TV, one of the young men involved revealed that plain-clothes police officers embedded within the group had directed operations, instructing the men on movement and positioning. He said the assignment was pitched at Sh2,000 per person, with each participant expected to arrange a motorcycle and ride in pairs.
In a separate incident, young men armed with clubs were seen working alongside police officers under the pretext of “protecting businesses” from violent protesters. They later claimed to have been working on behalf of Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, after a video surfaced showing them chanting “tumekulindia jiji” (we have protected the city for you) as they passed by City Hall.
The government has denied any involvement in orchestrating such activities. Meanwhile, President Ruto has directed the National Police Service to intensify efforts against the ongoing goon menace, calling not only for the arrest of those hired to incite violence but also for action against the individuals financing them.
