Speaking on NTV’s Fixing the Nation, Omollo acknowledged that some by-elections had been marred by violence and loss of lives, but maintained that the successful conduct of the polls, with few disputes over their outcomes, reflected the work done by the National Police Service.
He, however, warned that the loss of lives during political contests remained unacceptable and called for better planning to prevent a repeat of such incidents.
“The fact that all those by-elections have been successfully done with almost zero contest on the results or the outcome speaks to a lot of work that the police have done,” Omollo remarked.
He added that the security agencies were reviewing their experiences to identify gaps and improve their preparedness.
“There is still room for improvement because in some cases we have had people lose their lives. I don’t think it is acceptable that people lose their lives because leaders are contesting for positions,” he stated.
PS Omollo on Hooliganism
PS Omollo also turned his attention to political hooliganism, arguing that the problem went beyond the commonly used description of hired goons.
He described it as a longstanding challenge in which groups of young men organise themselves around political actors, particularly during election periods.
PS Omollo maintained that arrests alone would not resolve the problem, urging authorities to address the social and economic conditions that make young people vulnerable to political manipulation.
He revealed that more than 1,800 people had been arrested between January and September over incidents linked to political violence. Of these, about 700 had been successfully prosecuted, while hundreds of cases remained active in court.
“These are real cases involving incidents like torched police stations and burnt vehicles, and people have been prosecuted in court,” he explained.
However, Omollo expressed concern over what he termed lenient bail terms in cases involving serious offences, arguing that they risk undermining efforts to deter political violence.
He cited instances where suspects facing allegations linked to arson had been released on bail of as little as KSh500, adding that others had been granted KSh1,000 cash bail.
He urged the judiciary, investigative agencies and other institutions in the criminal justice system to play their part in ensuring that perpetrators face meaningful consequences.
According to the PS, tackling political violence also requires addressing unemployment and changing the perception that communities can only benefit from government development projects when their preferred candidates win elections.
He argued that President William Ruto’s approach to development demonstrated that public investments should benefit all Kenyans, regardless of their political choices.
PS Omollo maintained that the belief that losing an election amounts to losing access to development fuels political divisions and should be challenged.
“Ultimately, we must dismantle the toxic narrative that losing an election means losing out on development,” he noted.
As the country moves towards the 2027 General Election, the PS called for political processes that allow Kenyans to support their preferred candidates without intimidation or coercion.
He also urged citizens to strike a balance between holding security officers accountable for misconduct and supporting them in carrying out their lawful duties.
Omollo argued that national security and democratic stability could not be left to the police alone, but required the participation of citizens, political leaders and institutions.
He further challenged politicians to submit themselves to public scrutiny, insisting that their records and personal conduct should inform voters’ decisions.
The PS also questioned what he described as selective demands for accountability, pointing to politicians who had allegedly failed to honour summons issued by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).
He wondered why such cases had attracted limited public attention, arguing that accountability should apply across the political divide and the entire security and justice system.
“Security actors are doing their part despite their challenges,” he maintained, calling on all institutions to take responsibility for protecting the country’s democratic space.
Omollo said safeguarding peaceful elections would require more than police deployment, urging Kenyans to reject political intimidation and hold leaders accountable for their actions as the country prepares for another electoral contest.