By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, august 19, 2026 - The Western Regional Commissioner, Allan Machari, has directed politicians and organisers of political meetings and rallies in Western Kenya to stop using civilian or private security teams, saying the National Police Service has sufficient personnel to provide security at political gatherings.
Speaking in Busia on Wednesday after a meeting with security officers and National Government Administration Officers, Machari said authorities were engaging political leaders to ensure that police take full responsibility for securing political events across the region.
“Moving forward, all political gatherings will be covered by police, and no politician or any person holding a meeting will need to organise private security. What is required is to inform the police in advance, and they will provide the security,” Machari said.
Under the new directive, politicians planning rallies or other political meetings will be expected to notify the police in advance so that officers can be deployed to provide security.
Machari said the move is part of efforts to strengthen security during the political campaign period and prevent the emergence of civilian groups operating alongside or in place of formal security agencies.
He said security teams in Busia had worked to reduce recent cases of insecurity and that authorities were strengthening their preparedness to respond to emerging threats.
“The region is prepared to deal with any emerging insecurity situation because we have enough resources that can be deployed in case of need across the region,” he said.
The commissioner also called on members of the public to work with police and government administrators by sharing information that could assist authorities in preventing insecurity and dealing with cases of goonism and disorder.
The announcement comes as security and human rights agencies raise concerns over the presence of organised groups at political events.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) on Tuesday condemned political intolerance, violence and the use of organised criminal gangs or goons, as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Western Kenya is not the first region to move against private security at political gatherings.
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In July, authorities in Kisumu County announced a similar ban after a joint county security committee meeting, with officials saying the county had enough police officers to secure political gatherings.
The latest directive therefore signals a broader push by security authorities to ensure that political rallies remain under the control of formal security agencies rather than privately organised groups.
Kenyan law does not generally prohibit individuals from hiring legitimate private security personnel. However, private security providers do not have the powers of police officers or other members of disciplined services under the Private Security Regulation Act, 2016.
The distinction is important because the Western Region directive is specifically aimed at preventing civilians from taking on a role resembling a parallel security force at political gatherings.
Private security personnel cannot therefore assume police functions such as making unlawful arrests, using force outside their lawful authority or carrying offensive weapons without lawful authority.
For politicians and rally organisers in the Western region, the immediate requirement from the regional administration is to notify police ahead of political gatherings and allow the National Police Service to provide the security.
The move comes at a politically sensitive time, with campaign activity increasing and authorities facing growing pressure to prevent political gatherings from becoming flashpoints for violence.
Machari's directive puts formal security agencies at the centre of political-rally security in Western Kenya, while signalling a tougher stance against civilian groups being deployed as political security teams.