Millie Odhiambo Sends Strong Warning, Explains Why Kenya May Copy Troubled Haiti

Suba North Member of Parliament Millie Odhiambo has raised alarm over what she describes as a growing trend of organised gangs being used to intimidate individuals and enforce disputes in Kenya. 

The outspoken lawmaker warned that if the situation is not addressed urgently, the country could face a serious law-and-order crisis similar to that experienced in Haiti.

Speaking on Thursday, March 12, Odhiambo expressed concern about the increasing use of hired goons to settle property disagreements and disrupt business activities. 

She argued that the tolerance of such groups risks encouraging a dangerous culture of lawlessness.

The MP’s remarks followed a series of dramatic confrontations reported in both Kisumu and Nairobi involving prominent political figures.

According to Odhiambo, these incidents point to an emerging pattern where organised groups are allegedly mobilised to intimidate property owners or forcefully enforce disputed claims.

One of the incidents involved former Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera, who reported that a group of individuals stormed a hotel linked to him in Kisumu amid a dispute over unpaid rent. 

The confrontation was reportedly captured on CCTV footage showing dozens of people entering the premises.

Nyakera later claimed that the group caused significant destruction inside the hotel. Furniture in the restaurant area was overturned, bottles of alcohol were scattered across the bar floor and several items were allegedly removed from the property during earlier clashes connected to the dispute. 

The individuals reportedly claimed they were acting on behalf of the landlord, the Lake Basin Development Authority.

Hours after the Kisumu incident, another confrontation surfaced in Nairobi involving former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju. A video circulating online showed Tuju confronting a group of men who had gathered outside Dari Business Park in Karen.

In the footage, Tuju is seen ordering the group to leave the premises, accusing them of attempting to forcefully take over the property on behalf of individuals claiming ownership.

Reacting to the two incidents, Odhiambo said the use of large groups of individuals to enforce disputes reflects a worrying breakdown of legal processes. 

She warned that if authorities fail to act decisively, such practices could escalate and destabilise the country.

“The rise of gangster culture tolerated by authority will haunt Kenya,” she said, adding that similar gangs were reportedly deployed in both Kisumu and Nairobi incidents.

Odhiambo further cautioned that countries where criminal gangs have been allowed to gain influence have faced serious governance challenges. 

She cited Haiti as an example where armed gangs have gradually taken control of many neighbourhoods, forcing authorities to seek international assistance.

According to the MP, Kenya must strengthen the rule of law and ensure disputes are resolved through legal channels rather than intimidation. 

She stressed that allowing organised groups to operate freely could undermine public confidence in institutions and threaten national stability if the trend continues unchecked.