Mau Mau Veterans Issue Fresh Security Demand to Ruto After High-Profile Killings
Mau Mau war veterans have called on President William Ruto’s administration to take urgent action over rising insecurity, warning that a series of high-profile killings could fuel fear and undermine public confidence in Kenya’s security agencies.
The veterans have urged the government to intensify the fight against criminal gangs and violent offenders while ensuring that those responsible for killings are swiftly identified, arrested and prosecuted.
Their concerns come amid growing public attention surrounding the deaths of psychologist and researcher Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso and former Chesikake councillor and businessman Nathan Wasama, whose killings have raised fresh questions over security and the motives behind targeted attacks.
The veterans called on Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to strengthen security operations and ensure that investigations into serious crimes are conducted thoroughly and transparently.
They also warned that attacks against people who freely express their political or personal views could have a chilling effect on Kenyans’ willingness to participate openly in public affairs.
“When someone has the right of expression, and they are killed, it creates fear for them to even share their ideologies. This is not something to do to Kenyans,” one of the veterans said.
Questions surrounding Dr Mutiso’s killing
Dr Mutiso was fatally shot in Nairobi’s Upper Hill in an attack detectives are treating as a planned killing.
Investigators have reportedly been examining the movements of a Toyota Prado believed to have blocked the taxi she was boarding shortly before gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire.
Police suspect Dr Mutiso was shot three times. Detectives are also examining a possible connection between the Prado and a vehicle reportedly stolen during an earlier demolition of her property in Mlolongo, Machakos County.
The circumstances surrounding the killing have intensified calls for investigators to establish whether the attack was linked to an underlying dispute or was motivated by another factor.
Wasama killing sparks Mount Elgon fears
The veterans also cited the killing of Nathan Wasama, who was shot dead by two gunmen at his home in Mount Elgon, Bungoma County.
Wasama had reportedly expressed interest in contesting the Mount Elgon parliamentary seat in the 2027 General Election and had previously survived a shooting incident in 2024.
His death has renewed concerns about security in the Mount Elgon area, where a history of political and land-related violence has periodically raised fears of renewed militia activity.
Residents have particularly expressed concern over the possible circulation of illegal firearms and the potential for politically motivated violence as the country moves towards the 2027 elections.
Bungoma County police have launched investigations aimed at identifying the attackers and determining the motive for the killing.
Veterans demand stronger action
The Mau Mau veterans are now pressing the government to move beyond investigations and demonstrate that citizens can exercise their constitutional rights without fear of intimidation or violence.
They want security agencies to improve protection for vulnerable citizens and public figures, strengthen intelligence-led operations and ensure that investigations into high-profile killings result in prosecutions where sufficient evidence is established.
The veterans warned that prolonged investigations without clear outcomes could deepen public suspicion and weaken confidence in the country’s security institutions.
Their message to the government is therefore direct: high-profile killings must not become unresolved cases, and Kenyans must be able to express their opinions, pursue political ambitions and participate in public life without fearing for their lives.
With the 2027 General Election approaching, the veterans’ intervention also adds to wider concerns about security, political violence and the protection of citizens as political activity begins to intensify across the country.
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