Embakasi West Member of Parliament Mark Mwenje has raised concerns over the government’s handling of recent political violence in Nakuru and Homa Bay, calling for accountability from security agencies as Kenya approaches the 2027 General Election.
In an interview on August 17, 2026, Mwenje criticized the failure of security organs to act despite prior warnings. He specifically called on Interior Cabinet Secretary Paul Murkomen to be held responsible for the lapses.
Violence in Homa Bay and Nakuru
The MP’s remarks followed violent clashes at a Linda Mwananchi rally in Homa Bay on August 16, which resulted in two deaths and multiple injuries. The unrest also involved attacks on hotels housing political supporters, destruction of property, and assaults on journalists covering the event.
Mwenje linked this unrest to a similar attack days earlier in Nakuru, where a convoy linked to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was attacked by youths in Kaptembwa, damaging vehicles.
Concerns Over Early Political Campaigns
Mwenje expressed alarm over the early commencement of political campaigns, noting that leaders were already mobilizing supporters nearly a year before the polls.
“One year to the election, 357 days and everybody is already on the roof of their cars campaigning. We’ve destroyed the moral fiber of this country,” he said, urging Kenyans to learn from the violence that followed the 2007 elections.
Calls for Equal Enforcement of Political Conduct Laws
The MP also questioned whether security agencies were impartial in enforcing laws related to political speech and conduct. He highlighted what he described as selective arrests, pointing out that opposition members face harsher scrutiny compared to government supporters.
“Have you ever seen a UDA person arrested for comments they’ve made? Anybody in the opposition speaks recklessly and Subarus are waiting outside, but those in government speak the way they want and just go home,” Mwenje stated.
His comments come amid intensified political mobilization nationwide and increased focus on the conduct of political actors ahead of the August 2027 elections. Institutions such as the National Cohesion and Integration Commission and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission have also highlighted the risks posed by a hostile political environment to the credibility of the upcoming polls.
