KISUMU, Kenya, Jun 16 — Kisumu County Commissioner Mohammed Ramadhan Mwabudzo has issued a stern warning to political gangs and goons operating in Kisumu, saying security agencies will not tolerate violence and intimidation as Kenya prepares for the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a Political Parties Forum on election preparedness in Kisumu, attended by women aspirants and political parties’ women’s leagues, Mwabudzo assured women leaders of full state protection to enable their participation in politics without fear.
“We are not going to allow goonism to prevail in this city. We know them, we have enough intelligence and we will deal with them,” Mwabudzo said.
As chair of the County Security Committee, he said security agencies had already begun early preparations to safeguard the electoral process by engaging stakeholders and addressing emerging threats.
The forum brought together officials from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), security agencies, and women leaders from various political parties to discuss barriers affecting women’s participation in elections.
Mwabudzo emphasized that women seeking elective office must be guaranteed safety, noting that Kenya’s democratic space must remain open and inclusive.
“As chairman for security in this county, I want to assure all women in all political parties that we want fairness. We will ensure that security prevails,” he said.
He urged political leaders to coordinate with security agencies when planning rallies and political activities to ensure order and continuity of daily economic activity.
“We want to assure all leaders that they are guaranteed a space in this county to do their politics,” he added.
Mwabudzo further noted that while Kisumu remains politically active, authorities will not allow individuals or groups to disrupt peace through violence. He said intelligence-led policing would be strengthened ahead of the election period.
Political parties’ representative Ezekiel Obonyo said the forum aimed to capture women’s experiences from past elections and identify measures to improve future participation.
“We’re listening to the views of women, the challenges, and how we can improve to make the environment more conducive,” he said.
He stressed the need for early warning systems and collaboration between electoral bodies, political parties, and security agencies to address threats facing women candidates.
Kisumu Woman Representative aspirant and UDA candidate Beatrice Amondi welcomed the discussions but noted that women still face discrimination and intimidation in politics.
“The very concern we are facing is discrimination and mudslinging,” she said, adding that negative stereotypes discourage women from contesting elective seats.
