"We are losing the country to anarchy": Opposition sounds alarm over goonism, abductions

Opposition leaders on Sunday warned that Kenya is sliding into anarchy, citing rising political violence, alleged abductions, and the use of armed gangs to attack government critics and terrorise Kenyans.

They accused President William Ruto's administration of failing to protect lives and uphold the rule of law.

Speaking during a church service in Kamulu, Nairobi County, where they presented several people they claimed had recently been abducted before being released, the leaders said the country was witnessing a dangerous breakdown of law and order.

Led by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Jubilee Deputy Leader Fred Matiang'i, they called for sobriety among leaders regardless of their political affiliation.

"There is no doubt these people were arrested by the Kenyan police, put into police lorries, driven around the city and later transferred to the famous Subarus. We must reform the National Police Service because it cannot continue this way," Musyoka said.

He argued that institutions meant to hold security agencies accountable had become ineffective, saying Kenyans were crying out for justice as cases of alleged enforced disappearances continued to emerge.

The former Vice President added: "By justice, a king gives a country stability. We want to get our country back. Bribery has become the order of the day and leaders are openly violating Chapter Six of the Constitution."

Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i painted an even grimmer picture, saying Kenya was steadily descending into chaos as criminal gangs increasingly operated with impunity.

"We are losing the country. We are sliding into chaos," Matiang'i warned.

"I served as Minister for Security for five years. I understand this sector and I can tell you from what we are seeing that we are actually losing the country to anarchy."

Matiang'i cited the recent violence along Thika Road, where suspected goons barricaded sections of the highway, attacked motorists and pedestrians for hours, leaving at least two people dead despite the heavy presence of security officers.

"Driving on a road in your own country and getting stoned while police officers watch from across the road is unacceptable. You want to tell me we have a country ahead?"

He claimed crime had been "industrialised", alleging that organised gangs were operating under political protection.

"Crime has been industrialised in our country. There are commanders, leaders and structures supervising these gangs."

He further questioned why security agencies allegedly had the capacity to track government critics but failed to stop organised violence.

"If the government has the resources to read your WhatsApp messages and abduct you because you criticised them, where are those same resources when people are buying batons and organising gangs to attack innocent Kenyans?"

He urged religious leaders to lead national reconciliation efforts, warning that the country was becoming desensitised to killings and disappearances.

"We need a Caravan of Peace across this country. We need reconciliation because human life has lost its value."

The remarks came just days after violence erupted in Keumbu, Kisii County, where leaders allied to the Linda Mwananchi movement were attacked during a rally by suspected goons, forcing the meeting to end abruptly.

Democratic Action Party-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa demanded the arrest and prosecution of those behind the attack, warning that the opposition would pursue private prosecutions if authorities failed to act.

"For how long will we continue losing the lives of innocent Kenyans? We will institute private prosecutions against those leaders involved in the Keumbu attack," Wamalwa said.

The opposition maintained that the recent attacks, coupled with alleged abductions and political intimidation, pointed to a coordinated assault on democratic freedoms ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The government has, however, consistently denied involvement in enforced disappearances and political violence witnessed across the country.

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo recently dismissed allegations linking the State to abductions, insisting enforced disappearances were not government policy and challenging those making the claims to provide evidence to facilitate investigations.

President William Ruto has also previously condemned abductions, saying such acts had no place in Kenya and directing security agencies to ensure they do not recur.

But on Sunday, opposition leaders insisted the government's assurances were increasingly difficult to reconcile with what they described as growing incidents of political violence, disappearances and attacks targeting government critics.

They called on security agencies to restore public confidence by bringing perpetrators of the recent violence to justice, warning that failure to act risked pushing the country deeper into instability ahead of the 2027 polls.