By Kamadi Amata
Chief Justice Martha Koome has classified political goonism as organized crime, urging law enforcement to pursue its financiers and suggesting such offenses be tried at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Speaking in Kieganguru, Maara Constituency, during the official opening of the Maara Law Courts, CJ Koome called on police to focus their efforts on arresting the orchestrators who sponsor goons to disrupt political meetings. She emphasized that the problem will only be resolved by tackling its root cause.
According to CJ Koome, police have continually treated the symptoms rather than the root cause by arresting lower-level operatives while leaving the masterminds untouched.
Her remarks come amid a public rift with government security officials. On Wednesday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen told the floor of the National Assembly that the Judiciary remains the weak link in combating political goonism.
Responding to the criticism, CJ Koome clarified that courts cannot deny bail to suspects arbitrarily, as the Constitution guarantees the right to bail, particularly when individuals are charged with minor offenses like creating a public disturbance. She pointed out that while hired goons face court proceedings, their financial sponsors remain free to plan subsequent disruptions.
The statement follows a heated debate on Tuesday during a National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) meeting, where CJ Koome and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Boss Mohamed Amin differed on strategy. Amin similarly accused the Judiciary of laxity for granting lenient bail terms to arrested goons.
Firm on her stance, CJ Koome stressed that if the sponsors are not brought to justice through legal channels, they will face ultimate moral accountability, warning that the issue must be decisively tackled before it undermines the upcoming 2027 General Elections.
Supporting the Chief Justice, Council of Governors (CoG) Chairperson and Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki condemned politicians who hire goons against rivals.
Using a vivid analogy, Governor Njuki noted that “every barking dog has an owner,” arguing it is time to take firm action against political financiers regardless of their status.
He assured that the CoG will work closely with county security teams to curb the rising trend, calling on fellow governors to actively report financiers and support security agencies in eliminating the vice.
