NAIROBI, Kenya — People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has condemned the escalating attacks on the Linda Mwananchi movement, warning that the growing use of political violence to disrupt opposition gatherings threatens Kenya’s democracy and national security.
Karua accused President William Ruto’s administration of failing to adequately protect political opponents and uphold democratic freedoms amid a series of disruptions targeting critics of the government.
“If you cannot handle political competition, resign. Do not destabilize an entire country simply because its people are demanding a different choice,” Karua said in a statement on Sunday.
Her remarks followed an attack on a Linda Mwananchi gathering in Homa Bay County, where armed youths reportedly disrupted a political rally, forcing businesses to close and leaving several people, including journalists, injured.
Karua said the incident was part of a worrying pattern of political violence that should not be dismissed as isolated confrontations.
“These incidents cannot be viewed in isolation. The repeated nature of these incidents raises serious questions about the growing use of organized violence to intimidate political opponents and restrict citizens’ constitutional freedoms. Political goonism is not democracy,” she said.
The former Cabinet Secretary warned that the continued use of violence in political competition could have serious consequences for Kenya’s stability, particularly as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Karua argued that political competition should be based on competing ideas, policies and leadership programmes rather than attempts to intimidate or silence opponents.
She also criticised what she described as the mobilisation of groups to disrupt political meetings, saying such actions undermine citizens’ constitutional rights to assemble, associate and participate in political activities.
The Homa Bay incident has triggered condemnation from other opposition leaders, with Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka also accusing the government of allowing political violence to escalate.
Kalonzo alleged that the Ruto administration was seeking to create conditions that could undermine the 2027 electoral process, including through political unrest.
He claimed that the government could be seeking to “escape” the 2027 polls by sponsoring disorder and disrupting peace during the election period.
The accusations come amid increasingly heated political exchanges between the Kenya Kwanza administration and opposition figures, with rival political camps stepping up grassroots mobilisation ahead of the next General Election.
Karua maintained that the government has a responsibility to protect the rights of all citizens regardless of their political affiliations and should ensure that opposition parties can conduct lawful activities without intimidation.
She warned that failure to address political violence could weaken public confidence in democratic institutions and create an environment in which political differences increasingly translate into confrontation.
With the 2027 election approaching, the growing dispute over political rallies, freedom of assembly and alleged violence is likely to remain a major test of Kenya’s democratic institutions and security agencies.
