Where goon is defined by state, Ruto's warning rings hollow

The notion of a goon in Kenya is largely a vague matter of political convenience. There is no definition of a goon in Kenyan law, even as President William Ruto vows, as he did this week, to rid the country of goons.Within Kenya’s statutory law, it is impossible to find the headword “goon”. The statutes know of such offences as public violence, extortion, hired violence, and possession of weapons,” among other forms of affray. But nowhere does Kenyan law seem to understand who a goon is, or help us to understand. Accordingly, when President Ruto promises “to deal with goons,” it is difficult to tell who, as a matter of law, he has in mind.Get Full Access for Ksh299/WeekUncover the stories others won’t tell. Subscribe now for exclusive accessUnlock the Truth Now 》Unlimited access to all premium contentUninterrupted ad-free browsing experienceMobile-optimized reading experienceWeekly NewslettersMPesa, Airtel Money and Cards acceptedAlready a subscriber?Log inFollow The Standard
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Within Kenya’s statutory law, it is impossible to find the headword “goon”. The statutes know of such offences as public violence, extortion, hired violence, and possession of weapons,” among other forms of affray. But nowhere does Kenyan law seem to understand who a goon is, or help us to understand. Accordingly, when President Ruto promises “to deal with goons,” it is difficult to tell who, as a matter of law, he has in mind.Get Full Access for Ksh299/WeekUncover the stories others won’t tell. Subscribe now for exclusive accessUnlock the Truth Now 》Unlimited access to all premium contentUninterrupted ad-free browsing experienceMobile-optimized reading experienceWeekly NewslettersMPesa, Airtel Money and Cards acceptedAlready a subscriber?Log inFollow The Standard
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