Lagat warned that individuals who use political competition as an excuse to terrorise opponents, disrupt public gatherings or cause insecurity would face the full force of the law.
His remarks place politicians and their supporters on notice at a time when political mobilisation is gaining momentum ahead of the August 2027 elections.
The police chief also cautioned against the recruitment of young people into criminal gangs to intimidate political opponents or disrupt rival campaigns. He maintained that political interests would not shield anyone from prosecution for engaging in unlawful activities.
The warning comes as security agencies step up preparations for the next General Election. The National Police Service has developed an election security roadmap covering September 2026 to December 2027, with measures targeting organised crime, political violence and threats to public order.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has previously identified organised criminal gangs, inflammatory political rhetoric, misinformation and communal tensions as potential threats to electoral security.
The scale of concern is reflected in police figures presented to the Senate, which showed that arrests of suspected gang members rose from 602 between September 2024 and August 2025 to 1,316 in the following 12 months.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has also raised concerns over political goonism, gangsterism and hate speech, warning that such practices threaten the credibility and peaceful conduct of elections.
Lagat's warning signals that the police intend to take a firm position against criminal conduct as political campaigns intensify. However, the effectiveness of that commitment will ultimately depend on impartial enforcement of the law, regardless of the political influence or standing of those involved.
With the 2027 elections drawing closer, the message from the police leadership is clear: political rivalry must not be turned into an avenue for violence, intimidation or lawlessness.
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