MPs put Murkomen on the spot over abductions, goonism ahead of 2027 polls

By  Samwel Owino

Reporter

Nation Media Group

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen faced tough questions from Members of Parliament over increased cases of abductions and goonism ahead of next year’s General-Election.

Appearing before the whole House during question time, lawmakers accused the Ministry of Interior of doing little to curb the goonism culture taking root in most political meetings and of failing to provide answers on persons reported as disappeared.

Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula recounted how he nearly lost his life when he went for the burial of the mother of Nyando MP Jared Okelo in Kisumu County.

“I innocently went for the burial of the mother of one of my members in Nyando. I nearly lost my life to goons,” Mr Wetang’ula said.

Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo warned that if the government fails to tackle goonism decisively, more fatalities are likely ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

“I’m concerned that we are not dealing with this issue of goonism very seriously and it is going to affect us as a country,” Ms Odhiambo said.

“If we don’t treat this seriously, we are going to have a lot of fatalities. I don't care which side of the political divide it is; a lot of it is fuelled by us politicians, arrest politicians, including MPs and prosecute,” she added.

Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje pointed out that a peaceful 2027 election depends on how the government will deal with goonism.

“We want an assurance from the cabinet secretary that he will deal with these issues whether the persons involved are in government or in the opposition. I can assure you, if he deals with these issues, we will have peaceful elections,” Mr Mwenje said.

Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah accused the ministry of failing to deal with those who have confessed to having mobilised goons. He was referring to recent remarks by former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo.

“Ndolo confirmed on TV that he had mobilised goons and your police did nothing about it. We must take this thing of goonism more seriously because it is us politicians and the Executive who are making it what it is,” Mr Ichung’wah said.

Mr Ndolo boasted, at the Jesus Teaching Ministry church in Donholm on October 18, 2026, that he ferried youths to various political forums, including to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s memorial in Migwena grounds, Bondo, Siaya County.

Runyenjes MP Karemba Muchangi said goons had interfered with a meeting presided over by the Deputy President Kithure Kindiki in Embu in September, leading to the death of two people.

“In Embu, a political meeting was invaded by goons; we lost two people and several cars were burned and to date, no one has been arrested,” Mr Muchangi said.

Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba said a police officer who was recently abducted in his constituency was found dead.

 “Are you aware that one of the police officers in my constituency was abducted and his body found in River Yala? These are the facts on the ground.”

Mandera South MP said two months after the disappearance of a National Police Reservist Officer, Ali Issack Abdullahi, his whereabouts remain unknown.

“It’s been two months now and the family is not getting any comforting response from the ministry,” Mr Haro said.

Mr Murkomen told the House that investigations are ongoing, with police pursuing all available leads to establish the victim's whereabouts and identify those responsible.

Mandera East MP Hussein Weytan, an MCA aspirant, was abducted six months ago in Kariokor and has not been found.

“I have a case of a person who was abducted in Kariokor by six hooded people; unfortunately, six months now, there is no information at all and parents are going through a lot of pain,” Mr Weytan said.

“What exactly is going on with the issues of disappearances in our country? He asked

Manyatta MP John Mukunji claimed that since 2024, when Murkomen took charge of the Interior docket, there has been a surge in abductions across the country

Mr Murkomen told MPs that there is no police unit or officers allowed to abduct anybody, assuring the House that the specific cases will be investigated.

He said that more than 100 goons have been arrested over the Homa Bay incident during the Linda Mwananchi rally and presented in various courts.

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