Kenya is experiencing a sharp rise in politically motivated gang violence, with over 104 criminal groups active across the country and at least 300 suspects arrested in a recent crackdown. The crisis was thrust into public focus after Senator Godfrey Osotsi was beaten and robbed in broad daylight in Kisumu (a major city in western Kenya), with his attackers reportedly demanding to know why he did not support the president's re-election bid. With general elections due by August 2026 and a volatile political landscape — including the return of impeached former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua as a presidential challenger — observers warn Kenya risks repeating the deadly political violence that claimed around 1,500 lives following the disputed 2007 election.