Former constitutional affairs minister Martha Karua has accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of allowing political violence to take root in the country, following an attack on a Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) convoy led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in Nakuru.
Karua condemned what she described as the reported use of violence, intimidation and organised groups to disrupt opposition political activities, warning President William Ruto against using political goons to suppress dissent.
She said political competition was a constitutionally protected right and insisted that leaders should seek the support of Kenyans through democratic means rather than force.
Karua challenged President Ruto to respect the wishes of Kenyans if he no longer enjoys their support, arguing that political power should not be maintained through violence or intimidation.
She said the Nakuru incident raised serious questions about whether the violence had been organised to disrupt the opposition’s activities.
“There are allegations that individuals associated with the broad-based government may have been involved, including claims concerning political actors in Nakuru,” Karua said.
She called for the allegations to be investigated independently and impartially, with anyone found responsible being held personally accountable.
Karua said there was growing concern that political violence and the use of organised groups to intimidate, harass or attack political opponents were becoming increasingly common in Kenya.
She warned that repeated attacks on opposition convoys, political meetings and supporters should not be normalised.
“The responsibility of the Government is not to protect one political faction against another. It is to protect every Kenyan, regardless of political affiliation,” she said.
Karua placed responsibility on President Ruto, as Head of State and Government, to ensure that State institutions, particularly security agencies, remain impartial and protect the constitutional rights of all citizens.
She demanded that the President and Kenya Kwanza administration immediately stop what she termed political incitement, mobilisation and deployment of groups to intimidate or attack political opponents.
The former deputy president also called on Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja and the National Police Service to establish who planned, financed, facilitated and participated in the Nakuru violence.
She demanded the timely identification and arrest of all perpetrators regardless of their political connections or status.
Karua further urged police to protect opposition leaders, their supporters and members of the public exercising their constitutional rights to assemble, associate and participate in political activities.
She called for all available evidence, including CCTV footage, photographs, videos and other recordings, to be preserved and examined as part of the investigations.
She also warned political and administrative officials against interfering with investigations or the prosecution of suspects.
Karua called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and other constitutional institutions to independently scrutinise the conduct of security agencies before, during and after the Nakuru incident.
She said Kenya risked sliding into a culture in which political disagreements were settled through violence, destruction of property and the abuse of State power.
“Kenyans must reject the politics of fear, violence and impunity,” she said, urging security officers to remain faithful to the Constitution and their professional oath.
Karua told security officers not to allow themselves to be used as instruments of political repression, insisting that their loyalty should be to the Constitution and the Republic rather than individuals or political parties.
She also called on political leaders across the divide to exercise restraint and reject incitement, retaliation and vigilantism.
“The answer to political violence cannot be more political violence,” she said.
Karua warned that if domestic mechanisms failed to protect citizens or hold perpetrators accountable, Kenyans and their representatives would pursue constitutional, regional and international accountability mechanisms.
She urged what she described as the silent majority of Kenyans who desire peace, justice, democracy and constitutional government to speak out against political violence.
“Kenya must never become a country where political power is maintained through violence,” she said.
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