PREMIUM Inside Kenya's shadow world of youth mobilisers To outsiders, they are 'goons' but to political actors, these youth play a key role in pulling crowds for a fee and providing security at rallies. Weekly Review Just now Listen

Master's account mirrors the findings of a 2025 report by Odipodev and Tribeless Youth, Goonland: “Looking Beyond the Money and Violence in the Political Exploitation of Young Men,” which found that Kenya's growing goon economy is fuelled by unemployed youth willing to carry out assignments for as little as Sh500.

His killing exposed the risks facing young men navigating Kenya's informal political economy, where unemployment, loyalty and survival often intersect.

His killing exposed the risks facing young men navigating the informal political economy, where unemployment, loyalty and survival often intersect.