Oburu calls for end to goonism, violent demos

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Oburu Oginga has called for an end to the culture of goonism and violent demonstrations.

Speaking at State House where President William Ruto received the report on the framework for the reparations for victims of human rights violations, Oburu also criticised politicians for hiring goons.

While emphasising the need for police to uphold the rule of law and human rights, Oburu who is also the Senator for Siaya county, regretted that majority of politicians hire goons adding that this does not augur well for peace and national harmony.

He said Kenyans should be allowed to demonstrate and picket peacefully as guaranteed by the constitution but also urged demonstrators to maintain peace and uphold the law by not carrying weapons, pelting people with stones, looting or destroying property.

“Almost every politician nowadays has goons. We have goons for hire by both sides but we as leaders, must ensure that that culture of goonism is stopped completely,” he said.

“Let wananchi who are aggrieved go to the streets, demonstrate and follow the law but not carry any weapon.” 

He traced the agitation for democracy and defence for human rights to the 1970s attributing it to his father, the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and his brother Raila Odinga.

He linked reparation for victims of human rights abuse to the broad-based arrangement that President William Ruto and Raila entered into in March 2025, saying: “If he was alive I am sure he would be the first to be invited to this occasion because he held the ideals of human rights very dearly.”

The emergence of goonism has become a growing concern in Kenya's political and social landscape, with hired groups increasingly being linked to the disruption of peaceful demonstrations, political meetings and public events.

What were once isolated incidents have evolved into a recurring phenomenon, raising fears about the erosion of democratic freedoms and public safety.

In recent months, allegations of politicians and other powerful interests using goons to intimidate opponents, infiltrate protests or cause chaos have become more common.

During demonstrations, such groups are often accused of engaging in looting, vandalism, assaults and destruction of property, actions that frequently overshadow the genuine grievances being expressed by protesters.

The trend has also complicated efforts to distinguish between peaceful demonstrators exercising their constitutional rights and criminal elements seeking to exploit public gatherings for personal gain.