Eldoret residents are raising alarm over goons terrorising the town, pointing fingers at Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, police officers, and even a personal assistant linked to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen. Locals say these groups operate freely, rarely face arrests, and sometimes get pulled out of trouble by law enforcement.
The claims exploded into the open after a video surfaced on social media showing a group of men, including human rights activist Kimutai Kirui, speaking out in Eldoret. Kirui told the camera that more than 300 individuals—described as goons—are drawing pay cheques from the Uasin Gishu County government while also answering to Sudi.
He accused the county’s leadership, including Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim, of funding these groups. Kirui went further, naming the officer in charge at Eldoret Central Police Station, James Lenaso, as someone allegedly heading or shielding the operation with political backing. He called on Murkomen to rein in his own PA, who residents believe helps coordinate or protect the activities.
Videos circulating online capture the frustration. In one clip shared widely, Kirui stands with others and explains how the goons move around without fear.
Businesses feel the pressure, residents watch their streets turn tense, and everyday life suffers from the constant threat. Some posts mention that these gangs now carry specific names, making them easier to identify but harder to stop because of the alleged protection.
This isn’t the first time Sudi’s name has come up in connection with street-level muscle in the region. Critics have long accused him of using such groups to quiet protests or handle opposition.
One elder claim even suggested he pioneered the tactic in Eldoret to block youth demonstrations, a pattern some say spread elsewhere. Now, with unemployment high and politics heating up ahead of future elections, the accusations carry extra weight. People worry that what starts as intimidation in one town could spread if left unchecked.
Murkomen himself has spoken about the broader problem of goon culture in Kenya. Just weeks ago, he warned MPs and other leaders that security agencies are building cases against politicians suspected of sponsoring or protecting criminal gangs.
He stressed that investigations target violence and disorder, not politics, and promised action once evidence solidifies.
The situation paints a tough picture for ordinary people in the growing city. Shop owners hesitate to open late, families avoid certain areas after dark, and public spaces feel less safe.
Human rights voices and online commentators keep pushing the story, sharing clips and demanding transfers for implicated officers or full probes. Calls grow louder for accountability, especially when police are seen rescuing rather than arresting suspects.
No official response has come yet from Sudi, Murkomen, or the county government to directly address these latest claims. Police statements on the matter remain limited, though broader security operations target gangs in other parts of the country. In Eldoret, the talk centres on whether this pressure will force real change or simply fade amid political noise.
For now, the residents speaking out say enough is enough. They want the streets back, free from groups that answer to powerful figures rather than the law.
