Kenya's Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, has ordered a nationwide crackdown on criminal gangs and "goons for hire" following a disturbing rise in their use to disrupt public order, particularly ahead of upcoming elections.

• The directive comes after "hired goons" disrupted a meeting at All Saints Cathedral Church in Nairobi on June 12, 2026, allegedly on behalf of a Nairobi MP.
• Key figures giving instructions include Inspector General Douglas Kanja and Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat, who are urging commanders to enhance preparedness and learn from past security lapses.
• The incidents of "goonism" have also been witnessed at political rallies in Busia and Kakamega, underscoring concerns that such tactics could undermine security during the 2027 General Election campaign.

Church leaders in Kenya are blaming the State for a disturbing trend of politically motivated violence and disruptions, warning it could trigger widespread unrest ahead of the General Election.

• Anglican Church of Kenya Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit and the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) are leading the concerns.
• Recent incidents include a violent disruption at ACK All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi and an earlier attack at ACK St Peter’s Witima Church in Othaya, Nyeri County.
• The clergy are questioning the lack of arrests and demanding accountability, with Archbishop Sapit calling for the resignation of the Inspector General of Police if perpetrators remain unpunished.

Fearing escalating political violence ahead of the 2027 general elections, teachers in Kenya are seeking mass transfers, leading to a warning from the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET).

• Hundreds of teachers are reportedly requesting transfers from areas deemed unsafe due to increased security threats.
• KUPPET is urging police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to hold politicians spreading divisive politics accountable.
• The union also raised concerns about the deployment of hired youth to instigate unrest, highlighting recent incidents of disruptions at political functions and even a church.