Methu labels Murkomen ‘CS for Goons and Coordination of National Terror’

NAKURU, Kenya, Aug 15 — Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) Secretary General-designate John Methu has branded Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen the “CS for Goons and Coordination of National Terror,” accusing the minister of presiding over a police command structure that allowed hired groups to attack opposition supporters in Nakuru.

Methu, the Nyandarua Senator, made the remarks on Saturday while alleging that police officers were instructed to keep off as goons attacked an opposition team travelling to attend political meetings in the county.

“So long as Kipchumba Murkomen is the Cabinet Secretary for goons and coordination of national terror, there is no way Mr William Ruto will ever tell us that he wants to fight goons,” Methu said.

He accused Murkomen of failing to curb what he described as a growing “goon culture” targeting opposition activities.

Methu alleged that police officers in Nakuru had been warned against intervening during Thursday’s violence, claiming the county commander, Samuel Boit, instructed officers to keep away while groups attacked opposition supporters.

He further alleged that a police Land Cruiser was stationed about 150 metres from the scene of the attack but officers did not intervene.

“The police were telling us this morning that when they were briefed, before we got to Kaptembwa, that there are goons that were waiting for us on the road, and they wanted to react,” Methu said.

“But we have been informed that the county commander… instructed the police to keep off, so that they can allow the goons to have a free hand.”

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Methu also accused Boit of directing officers at Central Police Station not to interfere with the violence, allegations that have not been independently verified.

He claimed the attack was coordinated and funded through Nakuru West MP Samuel Arama, working with Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika.

Methu further alleged that Arama had warned opposition supporters that they would not be allowed to reach Nakuru, claiming he had indicated that he had backing from the Interior Ministry.

The senator challenged the police to secure subsequent opposition activities in the county, saying the DCP had received intelligence of planned disruptions at the opening of its Nakuru town offices in Milimani.

He specifically named Arama as allegedly mobilising goons to disrupt the event and also accused the personal assistant of Njoro MP Shima Kamau of organising violence at an opposition meeting in Njoro.

Methu said the responsibility for protecting lives and property rested with the police.

The allegations follow clashes during opposition political activities in Nakuru in which several vehicles were damaged, including those belonging to politicians and a media organisation.

Methu said three people had been killed in Nakuru, although the circumstances and casualty figures require confirmation.

He said the violence would not deter the opposition from campaigning, drawing a parallel with the recent Ol Kalou political contest.

“Violence will not break our resolve,” Methu said, urging opposition teams to continue mobilising across the country.

He argued that the opposition would become increasingly difficult to contain as its activities expand beyond individual constituencies.

“Ol Kalou is just a small constituency, 72,000 voters. Now we are going to about 20 million voters. There’s no way they can deploy goons everywhere,” he said.

Methu also accused the government of hypocrisy in its stated opposition to political violence, arguing that Murkomen’s alleged role in the security response undermined President William Ruto’s commitment to tackling goonism.

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The Senator said the opposition would document incidents of violence and pursue them through state accountability institutions.

Murkomen, Kihika, Arama and Boit could not immediately be independently verified, and none of the four had responded to the claims by the time of publication.