Tension gripped Kigumo town on Sunday afternoon after residents accused politicians allied to the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) of ferrying in hired goons who caused chaos shortly after attending a local church service.
According to eyewitnesses and residents, the group of youths, believed to be part of the DCP entourage, stormed the Kigumo shopping centre as locals awaited a scheduled political rally. What was expected to be a peaceful event quickly turned rowdy as the alleged goons began harassing traders and provoking residents.
“We were waiting to hear what the leaders had to say, but before they arrived, a group of rowdy youths started pushing people around and intimidating us,” said Mary Wanjiru, a shopkeeper in Kigumo.
The situation escalated, prompting police officers stationed nearby to intervene. Officers lobbed teargas canisters and engaged in running battles with the unruly youths to restore order. Several traders were forced to shut their shops, and some residents fled to nearby buildings for safety.
“It was like they came prepared to cause trouble. If the police hadn’t acted quickly, things would have gotten worse,” another resident stated.
Local leaders condemned the violence and called on political parties to uphold peace and order, especially in rural areas where tensions can easily spiral out of control.
“This is not the kind of politics we want in Murang’a. If someone needs support, they must earn it through ideas, not intimidation,” said a community elder.
Efforts to get a comment from the DCP team were unsuccessful by the time of publication. Meanwhile, police have confirmed ongoing investigations and promised to arrest those behind the chaos.
The incident casts a shadow on the party’s grassroots campaigns and raises fresh concerns over political thuggery ahead of the 2027 elections.
