Goons, often armed with jembe sticks, crude weapons, and whips have emerged as a terrifying new force during protests across Nairobi. These allegedly hired groups, who appear to work in coordination with the police according to the videos circulating online, are fast becoming a symbol of state-sponsored chaos in what are otherwise peaceful demonstrations.
In multiple incidents captured on video and widely shared on social media, the goons are seen flanking police officers, sometimes appearing to receive escort. Rather than dispersing them, law enforcement stands by, or even walks alongside as they attack protestors and innocent bystanders alike.
During Tuesday’s protests in Nairobi, sparked by public outrage over Albert Ojwang’s death in police custody, the goons were seen taking frontline positions alongside police, throwing stones and beating protestors. Some even assumed police roles, manning junctions and directing crowds all under the apparent supervision of actual officers.
This collaboration follows Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s declaration that protests would be kept out of the city. Ironically, as they departed the County Assembly, the goons were heard chanting “Igwee! Igwee!” a war cry, as they praised themselves for “defending the city.”
In one shocking scene, a man walking home from work was attacked, robbed, and left in tattered clothes by a group of goons who sped off on motorbikes in broad daylight. Elsewhere on Koinange Street, tensions boiled over when frustrated protestors torched two motorcycles believed to belong to the goons.
“These shadowy figures have hijacked our protests,” said Rashid, a boda boda rider who declined to give his full name for fear of retaliation. “They are agents of chaos pretending to be part of the movement. But they loot, they burn, and they discredit the cause.”
Eyewitness accounts paint a concerning picture. “The goons attacked us and overwhelmed us at first,” said Hanifa Adan, a prominent voice from last year’s protests. “They beat us with whips while the police stood there, watching.”
Business owners closed shops as tear gas filled the air. Protestors scattered in fear. “We are turning into a lawless country,” said Ndungi Githuku of the civil rights group Kongamano La Mapinduzi. “We see hundreds of paid goons brutalizing our people. We are shocked to see politicians appearing to rely on these groups to silence dissent.”
Kenya’s constitutional right to peaceful protest is under siege. This is not just by police bullets or tear gas, but by the terrifying rise of a new weapon: goons. These mercenaries of violence now stalk the streets, turning peaceful gatherings into battlegrounds.
