Machakos County Governor Wavinya Ndeti has condemned the rising cases of political violence and the use of hired goons ahead of the 2027 General Election, warning that the trend threatens the country's peace, democracy, and economic stability.
Speaking on Thursday during her day-two of development tour in Kangundo Sub-County, where she inspected and commissioned development projects, the Governor said the violence witnessed during the recent Ol Kalou by-election should not be allowed to define Kenya's political future.
She urged President William Ruto, as the Head of State, to ensure the menace is brought to an end and called on political leaders to stop mobilising goons for political gain, warning that countries which tolerate political violence often end up in instability and conflict.
Wavinya further cautioned that continued insecurity would scare away investors, slowing economic growth and costing Kenyans jobs.
"Kenya has attracted many investors over the years. If we allow instability to take root, investors will lose confidence and take their investments elsewhere. As leaders, we have a responsibility to leave this country better than we found it," said Wavinya.
The Governor also appealed to young people not to allow themselves to be used as political goons and reiterated that she has a constitutional mandate to inspect projects funded through public resources to ensure they benefit wananchi.
On his part, Machakos County Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi criticised the Kenya Kwanza administration, accusing it of allegedly implementing policies that are unsustainable and out of touch with the needs of ordinary Kenyans while undermining devolution.
Their remarks come amid growing concerns over increased cases of political violence ahead of the 2027 General Election.