Opposition leaders have accused President William Ruto’s administration of enabling extrajudicial killings, land grabbing, and political suppression, warning that such actions are pushing the country towards lawlessness.
They cited the recent killing of five people in Kilgoris, Transmara West, as part of what they termed a pattern of state-sponsored violence and land dispossession.
In a joint statement on Tuesday, the leaders condemned the clash between residents and General Service Unit (GSU) officers over a 6,800-acre land dispute. They claimed the land historically belongs to the local community but is now the target of land grabbing schemes allegedly backed by state forces.
“This tragedy is not an isolated incident but part of a growing pattern of state-enabled violence, land dispossession, and forceful displacement by the Ruto regime,” the leaders said.
The statement was signed by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa, Justin Muturi, Mithika Linturi, and Torome Saitoti.
They alleged that organised land fraud has become a national crisis, perpetrated by syndicates protected by the police and a judiciary they believe is no longer independent.
“Organised syndicates, operating with the protection of heavy-handed police forces and a compromised justice system, are fraudulently preparing ownership documents to forcefully and illegally expropriate land from rightful owners,” the leaders said.
Citing similar land conflicts in Mavoko, Nairobi, and Ndabibi, the opposition argued that such practices violate land rights guaranteed under Articles 60, 63, and 64 of the Constitution.
“With Ruto’s chequered past involving forced land displacements, we remind him that such acts are crimes against humanity. We are committed to escalating these cases to the International Criminal Court (ICC),” the statement added.
The leaders further called on state security agencies to uphold their constitutional duty to serve all Kenyans.
“We remind the National Police Service and all national security agencies: your allegiance is to the people of Kenya, not to a political regime,” the statement continued.
They also referenced the BBC documentary Blood Parliament, aired on Monday, which they said confirmed long-held fears about state-backed killings of peaceful protesters.
According to the statement, the documentary showed that the killings were premeditated and carried out by a clandestine unit operating within security agencies under orders from senior state officials.
“There is a handpicked killer squad drawn from various security agencies operating outside the chain of command of legitimate institutions,” the leaders claimed, blaming this group for a spate of abductions and executions.
They expressed concern over the continued deployment of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops across the country without proper legal authorisation.
“The BBC documentary also revealed that some KDF officers had been deployed with shoot-to-kill orders even before their deployment was gazetted and formally authorised.”
The leaders criticised the government for its failure to investigate or prosecute those responsible for the killings.
“We are appalled by the deliberate reluctance of relevant government agencies to investigate and prosecute these atrocities,” they said, singling out the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for failing to hold rogue officers accountable.
“Kenyans have lost all trust in these accountability mechanisms and therefore call for the formation of an investigative commission comprising both state and non-state actors to bring these individuals to justice.”
Calling the current administration a “gangster regime,” the opposition accused President Ruto of dismantling democratic institutions and violating the Constitution.
“We will not remain silent. Justice must be served. Accountability must prevail. Kenya must be saved,” the leaders declared.
