Nairobi, April 17 -- The National Police Service has warned Kenyans against participating in unlawful assemblies ahead of anticipated protests over rising fuel costs, saying security agencies were closing in on "goons" allegedly mobilised by political actors across the divide to infiltrate demonstrations and foment violence.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja said the National Police Service had heightened security operations to deal with what he described as a troubling surge in politically instigated thuggery.

"We further reiterate that the alarming surge in political violence and thuggery, instigated by leaders across the political divide through the use of goons and criminal gangs, constitutes a direct threat to national secu...