Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi has issued a chilling warning to the government, declaring that citizens will be forced to take security into their own hands if the state continues to abdicate its duty. The remarks, made amidst teargas and political tension, signal a dangerous escalation in the opposition-government standoff.

In a fiery address that has sent shockwaves through the political establishment, Kitutu Chache South Member of Parliament Anthony Kibagendi has declared that Kenyans are ready to "protect themselves" if the government fails to guarantee their safety. Speaking at a highly charged church service in Kitengela, where he stood alongside embattled Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Kibagendi painted a grim picture of a nation teetering on the edge of lawlessness.

The context of his remarks was unmistakable. Just hours earlier, police had lobbed teargas canisters to disperse a crowd gathered to hear opposition leaders, turning a peaceful rally into a chaotic scene of running battles. For Kibagendi, this heavy-handed police response was not just an inconvenience; it was a symptom of a failing state. "If the government cannot protect us," he thundered, "then we have no choice but to protect ourselves."

A Challenge to Authority

Kibagendi’s statement is more than political rhetoric; it is a direct challenge to the legitimacy of the state’s monopoly on violence. By suggesting self-defense, he is tapping into a growing sentiment of frustration among Kenyans who feel abandoned by security agencies. From the bandit-ravaged North Rift to the crime-ridden alleys of urban slums, the perception that the police serve the regime rather than the people is gaining traction.

Standing in solidarity with Senator Sifuna, who vowed not to be intimidated by "abductions and extrajudicial killings," Kibagendi framed the struggle as existential. The opposition faction, distinct from the group now cooperating with President Ruto’s administration, is positioning itself as the last line of defense for the common citizen. "We will not be silenced," they declared, a mantra that is quickly becoming the rallying cry for the next phase of political agitation.

The Specter of Vigilantism

Security analysts warn that such rhetoric, while potent, carries significant risks. When elected leaders openly discuss self-protection, it can easily be interpreted as an endorsement of vigilantism or militia formation. In a country with a history of post-election violence, these words are loaded. The government has yet to officially respond, but the deployment of teargas in Kitengela suggests a zero-tolerance approach to dissent is already in motion.

• Speaker: Anthony Kibagendi (MP, Kitutu Chache South).
• Context: Police disruption of opposition rally in Kitengela.
• Key Quote: "We will protect ourselves if govt fails to act."
• Implication: Rising tension between the state and the defiant opposition faction.

As the political temperature rises, the spotlight is now on the Ministry of Interior. Will they engage in dialogue, or will the crackdown intensify? For Kibagendi and his colleagues, the die is cast. They have drawn a line in the sand, daring the state to cross it.