City Lawyer’s Encounter with Political Violence

By Purity Benjamin

On the afternoon of September 18, the Safina Party headquarters was alive with excitement. Party members had gathered to witness a leadership transition ceremony ,a moment expected to mark renewal and continuity. Among those in attendance was Adrian Oluoch, a young leader and activist, accompanied by Patrick Kossoi and close friends from Bunge la Wananchi

In the evening the mood was replaced by chaos ,“We had just finished the day’s activities and were leaving when we saw a journalist being robbed outside the gate,” Oluoch recalled. “People stood by watching, so we rushed to help.” The intervention ignited a chain of events that would spiral into a violent confrontation. Unknown to Oluoch and his colleagues, another group lurking nearby turned against them.

“Suddenly, insults were hurled. Then fists flew. Before we knew it, goons descended on us.”

“We put up a strong fight. At some point, they realized they couldn’t beat us physically, so they resorted to throwing stones and creating mayhem,” he recounted.

Relief came when police officers, led by an OCS, arrived at the scene. Arrests were made, and later at the police station, an identification parade confirmed the involvement of some of the assailants.

According to the City lawyer ,the attack was not an isolated incident but part of a troubling pattern.“Every political rally I’ve ever attended ends in chaos. It’s as if violence has become part of our political culture,” he lamented. “Instead of exchanging ideas, people exchange blows.”

He blames both inadequate security deployment and citizens’ tolerance of violence. He recalls attending rallies of thousands where fewer than ten officers were deployed.

“Unless the president is there, you rarely see enough police presence. And when fights break out, the officers just watch until the damage is done,” he said.

Beyond recounting the chaos, Oluoch was reflective about the role of Kenya’s youth in reshaping the country’s political space.“The protests we held recently created an awakening. Every young person is now interested in politics and keeping the government accountable,” he said.He believes the next phase is for youth to not only protest but also occupy leadership spaces.“It’s time we contest for positions ,MPs, governors, senators. That’s how we’ll influence governance,” he argued.

Oluoch’s biggest concern, however, remains security.“If citizens don’t feel protected by the state, they will take the law into their own hands whether through mob justice or armed self-defense. That’s very unfortunate,” he warned.He called for reforms in policing and governance systems to restore trust between citizens and the state.

As Safina Party moves forward from its leadership transition, the shadows of that September 18 violence remain. For Adrian Oluoch, the day was a stark reminder that Kenya’s democracy is still fragile and that youth voices are essential in shaping a safer, more inclusive future.