Democracy Under Threat: Opposition Leaders Sound Alarm Over Surge in Political Violence

 
United Alternative Government principals led by Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, and JB Muturi address the press in Nairobi on political violence.

By Maximilla Wafula 

The United Alternative Government (UAG) has strongly condemned a rising wave of political violence in Kenya, warning that growing political intolerance threatens to dismantle the country’s hard-won democratic gains. Speaking to the media in Nairobi on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, the opposition alliance principals raised an alarm over a series of violent disruptions targeting political and public gatherings.

Led by H.E. Kalonzo Musyoka, Hon. JB Muturi, and Hon. Martha Karua, the leaders specifically highlighted recent chaotic incidents in Kisumu and Nyahururu. The coalition termed these targeted attacks a direct assault on the rule of law, democracy, and national cohesion. They demanded immediate, independent, and transparent investigations to hold the planners and perpetrators accountable, emphasizing that all Kenyans possess an unalienable constitutional right to participate in lawful political activities without fear, intimidation, or state-sponsored friction.

A major point of concern for the UAG is the perceived bias and deteriorating response of state security machinery. The principals raised serious concerns over repeated attacks explicitly targeting opposition leaders and questioned the tactical role of law enforcement agencies during these skirmishes. The leaders strongly petitioned the National Police Service (NPS) to execute its constitutional mandate impartially, protect all citizens equally, and resist being weaponized for partisan political agendas.

Furthermore, the opposition alliance turned its attention to upcoming democratic processes, specifically calling upon the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to guarantee a free, fair, and credible environment during the impending by-election in Ol Kalou. They noted that the electoral body and deployed security forces must remain entirely neutral to safeguard the will of the voters.

UAG strongly cautioned against the normalization of political violence and "goonism" in the country's political discourse. The principals concluded their joint address by appealing to both political leaders and ordinary citizens to exercise absolute restraint, uphold peace, and maintain unwavering respect for the Constitution, reminding the nation that retaliatory chaos yields no winners.