Homa Bay violence sparks political blame game

Youths engage at Nyandiwa shopping centre after goons stoned the Linda Mwananchi convoy ahead of rallies in Homa Bay. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has now demanded that the police thoroughly investigate the chaos witnessed in Homa Bay before and warned against dragging innocent people into the chaos.

This came amid the growing back and forth from different quarters on what led to the violence reported during the Linda Mwananchi rally on Sunday.

Although ODM chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Homa Town MP Peter Kaluma are among those whose names have prominently featured for allegedly planning the chaos, the two leaders have denied the claims and instead placed blame on the Linda Mwananchi leaders.

Yesterday, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, flanked by several ODM counterparts, squarely blamed it on Linda Mwananchi and demanded the arrest of Siaya Governor James Orengo, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Babu Owino (Embakasi East) and Caroli Omondi (Suba North).

“We ask the security apparatus to arrest and prosecute Orengo, Sifuna, Caroli and Babu for planning, killing and maiming our people under the guise of the August 16 rally and the gangs used to harm our people. We demand investigations and action by the state security apparatus on the funding and support to the Linda Mwananchi group,” Kaluma demanded.

ODM has also said that accusations made should not be treated as facts before investigators have established what happened, who was responsible and whether there was any organised plan behind the unrest.

Kaluma also accused the police of working with Linda Mwananchi’s ‘goons’ and protecting them during the Homa Bay chaos, in addition to demanding the transfer of top security apparatus in the region, who he claimed are working with politicians against the locals.

“We demand immediate transfer from Homa Bay of the Nyanza Regional Police Commandant and all the officers who aided in meting out violence upon our people,” he said.

Narrating the chronology of events, Kaluma claimed that Orengo went to Homa Bay in May, where he addressed people in public and directed vulgar, unprintable abuses at Wanga.

He also said that Orengo returned to Homa Bay through the lake, accompanied by dangerous thugs who were armed with guns, machetes, arrows and rungus and went beating everybody they deemed not to support them as they proceeded to Sindo, where he gave a public address while the thugs continued to attack people.

“Thereafter, the Linda Mwananchi Team gave a press conference and issued public notices of their intended rally in Homa Bay. Governor Orengo and Babu Owino did several subsequent press addresses to the media during which they threatened violence upon the people of Homa Bay, stating they had enough goons to take anybody who dared to face them into the grave,” Kaluma claimed.

He said that the Linda Mwananchi team members in Homa Bay later on delivered notice of their August 16 rally to Homa Bay police station, and followed this with an address to the media in which they threatened violence and death upon anyone opposed to them.

“Orengo and Babu Owino recruited the following dreaded criminals and thugs to execute violence on Homa Bay people during their Linda Mwananchi rally on August 16. They also recruited individuals across all towns and trading centres in Homa Bay to coordinate their activities and to enlist local people and college/university students to support them during the Homa Bay rally, enticing each with a promise of Sh3,000,” Kaluma claimed.

He said he had a public meeting with boda boda riders to plan an economic activity and when it was done, he found a crowd of his constituents mainly consisting of women.

“I informed them that the Linda Mwananchi team had brought thugs into Homa Bay and booked them in local hotels to harm our people on August 16. I told them to stand firmly in the ODM Party and behind President William Ruto. I directed all hotel owners to ensure they had full details of their guests and indicated that we would be inspecting the hotels to ensure they harboured none of the hired criminals,” Kaluma narrated.

“Following my address, most of the hired thugs and hardcore criminals relocated to hotels in Kisii where they made their base. Orengo and Babu Owino booked these dreaded thugs and hardcore criminals into hotels across Homa Bay County, especially in Homa Bay Town Constituency,” he added.

On August 15, he said that the police intercepted vehicles carrying some of the above-listed hardcore criminals headed to Homa Bay from Kisumu and recovered crude weapons.

“Throughout their journey of violence in Homa Bay County, the Linda Mwananchi team had the full support and were escorted by lorries and land cruisers of police, including GSU officers. I know the police were under instructions to abet and aid their goons as they attacked our people,” Kaluma claimed.

“The regional Commandant based in Kisumu was personally in charge of the operations to guard the Linda Mwananchi goons as they meted violence on our people and to abet their criminal activities, which included openly brandishing firearms as they moved through Homa Bay,” he added.

Already, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has summoned Kaluma in connection with remarks the commission is examining following a public gathering held in Homa Bay.

The commission directed Kaluma to appear before its offices at Britam Towers in Nairobi on August 19 to assist with ongoing investigations.

NCIC stated that the remarks reportedly made on or about August 15 in Homa Bay County are being examined under the National Cohesion and Integration Act, which mandates the commission to promote national unity and guard against hate speech, negative ethnicity, racism and religious intolerance.

“Pursuant thereto, you are hereby summoned to appear before the Commission situated at Britam Towers, Upper Hill, on the 17th Floor on Wednesday 19th August 2026 at 10:00 AM to assist the Commission with the ongoing investigations."