Disposable Defenders: How Political Goonism Turns Kenya’s Youth Against Democracy
Young people in Kenya are not politically apathetic; they are politically frustrated. Yet Kenya’s political system routinely turns that frustration into a weapon for the very leaders who should be held accountable for governance failures.
Unemployed youth are mobilized to intimidate rivals, and citizens who should be demanding better public services are deployed to shield politicians from public scrutiny. When the dust settles, leaders return to luxury vehicles while recruited youth are left behind with injuries, police records, or funeral notices.
The politician gains protection and deniability. The recruited youth carries the injury, the charge sheet and the funeral.” — Julius Mulase
Outsourced Coercion & Systemic Exploitation
Political goonism is not spontaneous disorder; it is a calculated system of outsourced political coercion. Exploiting extreme economic vulnerability, with 43% of youth aged 18–35 unemployed, politicians recruit human shields for violence while insulating themselves from legal consequences.
Documented findings from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reveal organized bike gangs infiltrating peaceful protests across Nairobi, Kisumu, and Eldoret, as well as hired violence during the July 2026 Ol Kalou by-election.
While poverty lowers the cost of recruitment, it is not an excuse for crime. True justice requires tracing vehicle ownership, M-Pesa records, and communication logs directly to the political principals who finance and profit from political violence.
A Call to Action Before 2027
To prevent politicians from treating young citizens as disposable buffers ahead of the 2027 General Election, urgent action is needed
- Strict IEBC Enforcement: Disqualify political candidates and parties linked to violent acts.
- Campaign Finance Tracing: Audit informal mobilization, transport cash, and handouts.
- Economic Independence: Award youth opportunities transparently to break political brokers’ grip.
- Practical Civic Education: Train youth to track county budgets and report electoral violations.
Read the Full Document
The strength of Kenya’s democracy is measured by how safely citizens can hold power to account, not by how fiercely youth protect leaders.
Download the Full Policy Document (PDF): Disposable Defenders — Julius Mulase