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Armed men fired tear gas and assaulted journalists during a local by-election in Ol Kalou on Thursday, raising fears of widespread violence ahead of Kenya’s 2027 general election.
Hooded men driving black SUVs swept through the streets and fired tear gas to disperse crowds, while rival political factions clashed using bows and arrows.
The violence occurred despite the deployment of 1,000 police officers to keep the peace.
The attackers specifically targeted members of the press covering the election.
A reporter for The Star lost his equipment to an aggressive group, while Nation Media Group reported that attackers tased one of its cameramen and robbed another at gunpoint.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen condemned the chaos and promised a thorough investigation, acknowledging that even deployed police officers might face charges if they participated in the misconduct.
The by-election serves as a proxy war between President William Ruto and his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, who was impeached in 2024.
Observers view the surge in political gangs as a dangerous precursor to the upcoming presidential campaign.
Highlighting this risk, a report by the Kofi Annan Foundation warns that Kenya faces an 84 per cent chance of major election-related violence in 2027.
