Systemic use of 'goons' in Kenya amplifies political repression
23 Jul 2026, 10:02 GMT
By FRANCE24
Source URL: https://www.france24.com/en/systemic-use-of-goons-in-kenya-amplifies-political-repression
With one year to go before Kenya's 2027 presidential election, human rights organizations are sounding the alarm. They are denouncing the rise of “goons”—henchmen recruited by political leaders to infiltrate rallies, sow chaos, and intimidate opponents. This is a long-standing phenomenon that has worsened significantly since the large-scale protests against William Ruto’s government.