Faith Odhiambo Links Westlands Robbery to Political Goonism, Urges Crackdown on Armed Gangs

Kenya, 6 July 2026 - Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo has called for urgent action against political violence and armed gangs, warning that the growing use of goons during political activities is now fuelling violent crime across the country.

In a statement on Monday, Odhiambo argued that the recent armed robbery at a restaurant in Nairobi's Westlands should not be treated as an isolated criminal incident but as the consequence of years of tolerating political violence.

"Armed robbery in a Westlands restaurant is not an isolated crime story but the logical outcome of years of normalising goons and weapons at political rallies," she said.

Odhiambo said politicians who arm young people for political purposes ultimately expose the wider public to insecurity once those weapons leave the political arena.

"Once you arm young people for politics, those guns and crude weapons don't remain at the rally. They migrate into our streets, churches, restaurants and estates, turning every space into a potential battlefield for hired violence and organised crime."

She noted that Kenya has witnessed a recurring pattern in which political actors allegedly recruit gangs during election periods, only for those groups to evolve into organised criminal networks that terrorise communities long after the politics has ended.

The former LSK president described the trend as a threat to the constitutional right to security and called on the government to dismantle armed political groups and prosecute those behind them.

"I add my voice to demand that the State decisively dismantle political goonism, disarm militias and hold to account any leaders who mobilise youth for violence instead of ideas."