The National Police Service has said that they have arrested 14 suspects in connection with the violence witnessed at opposition events in Kisumu and Nyahururu counties on Sunday.
A statement by Police Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga confirms that one person died and several others injured when rival groups clashed in Kisumu. Only injuries were reported in Nyahururu.
The goon attacks in two events linked to the Opposition's Linda Mwananchi movement have deepened fears of escalating political violence and intolerance ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The twin incidents came barely a week after a Linda Mwananchi convoy was violently attacked in Keumbu, Kisii County, where one person was killed and more than 20 others injured.
"Eight suspects were arrested (in Kisumu) and placed in custody pending arraignment...In Nyahururu Town, police arrested six suspects," read the police statement in part.
Two people are said to have sustained serious gunshot wounds after armed men and suspected goons attacked a Linda Mwananchi rally in Nyahururu town on Sunday. Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata said his driver was among those shot.
However, the police denied any shooting incident.
The attack occurred shortly after opposition leaders left Aipca Nyahururu Cathedral, where they had attended a church service before proceeding to address a public rally in the town. On Saturday, Linda Mwananchi announced changes to its campaign programme, saying it had shelved plans to campaign in Ol Kalou and would instead tour Nyahururu.
On Sunday as the politicians prepared to speak, gangs armed with machetes, rungus and stones descended on the gathering, pelting supporters with stones while occupants of a nearby vehicle allegedly opened fire.
Witnesses said some youths were seen retrieving stones from a vehicle and handing them to others who joined in attacking the crowd.
One of the victims who was shot had reportedly appealed to the crowd to remain calm and not flee as the attackers advanced. Several other people sustained injuries after they were beaten or struck by stones.
Leaders present were Governor Kang’ata, MP Anthony Kibagendi (Kitutu Chache South), Wilberforce Ojiambo (Funyula), Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi , Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka and Suba South MP Caroli Omondi.
Governor Kang'ata linked the violence to what he described as a series of attacks targeting the Linda Mwananchi team during its political engagements in the area.
Mr Osotsi said the incident was part of a series of attacks targeting Linda Mwananchi events, citing previous disruptions in Kisii and Kisumu. He accused the National Police Service leadership of failing to address repeated incidents of violence targeting opposition activities.
A crowd outside St Stephen's Cathedral in Kisumu, where Linda Mwananchi leaders James Orengo and Edwin Sifuna were attending a church service before goons attacked.
Mr Omondi said Linda Mwananchi is a peaceful movement and would continue holding political activities despite the incident.
“It is very unfortunate. The Inspector-General of Police should tell Kenyans whether he is in charge of the police service or whether he has surrendered it to goons. We cannot continue witnessing attacks like these while the police do nothing," said Mr Omondi adding said the opposition would not be intimidated.
In Kisumu, suspected goons attempted to storm St Stephen's ACK Cathedral where senior opposition leaders, including Siaya Governor James Orengo and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna were attending a service, forcing police to lob teargas and whisk the leaders away through an emergency exit.
Some of the youths were armed with crude weapons, including bows and arrows, while another group that had gathered within the church compound, armed with rungus, confronted them.
The group of suspected goons reportedly blocked the church compound, preventing the opposition leaders from leaving and attempting to force their way into the premises. The confrontation quickly escalated into running battles as the two groups exchanged blows, creating panic among worshippers and residents. Some motorbikes intercepted from the rival groups were also burnt.
Mr Orengo accused a section of state officials, local leaders and individuals linked to Linda Ground of orchestrating the violence, saying they had evidence to support the claims.
"We have evidence. Part of the leadership in Kisumu and a section of Linda Ground had their hand in what happened in Kisumu today," Mr Orengo said.
Sifuna said the attack would not intimidate the Linda Mwananchi movement, claiming the government was acting out of fear.
Goons and violence will not stop or intimidate us, Sifuna says after violence in Kisumu, Nyahururu
"These things are not going to stop us. The state is scared because they are in their last year in power. Everybody knows that in under 12 months, people like Sifuna and Orengo are the ones who will be running the government,"Mr Sifuna said.
The incident came as Mr Sifuna made his first public appearance since the Registrar of Political Parties approved his removal as ODM Secretary-General.
Using the church pulpit, the Nairobi senator declared that he would not retreat from frontline politics despite losing the influential party position.
He likened his removal to children being dispossessed of their inheritance after the death of a father, saying although some people had taken away his office, they could not take away the political values and wisdom he inherited from ODM leader Raila Odinga.
"There are things my father, Raila Odinga, gave me. He gave me wisdom. People have decided they will take everything else, but what God and the people gave me will be restored," he said.
Mr Sifuna's removal was formally approved last week after the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties ruled that ODM had complied with both the Political Parties Act and the party constitution in replacing him.
He had emerged as the strongest internal critic of ODM's cooperation agreement with President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza administration, insisting the party should remain firmly in opposition.
