‘It was a state-backed ambush,’ says Linda Mwananchi over Homa Bay chaos

The Linda Mwananchi movement accused security officers and alleged state operatives of coordinating a violent attack against its leaders and supporters during its tour of Homa Bay County on Sunday, leaving two people dead and several others injured.

Movement leaders described the incident as a “deliberate operation” rather than a spontaneous outbreak of political violence, alleging that some Kenya Police Service officers worked alongside armed groups to disrupt their convoy.

“What we witnessed was not a spontaneous breakdown of law and order. It was a deliberate operation,” the group’s chair, Edwin Sifuna, said in a statement on Monday.

According to the movement, its convoy encountered repeated roadblocks and barricades from the Kisumu-Homa Bay border and along routes towards Migori and Kisii, restricting the movement of its supporters during the political tour of the ODM stronghold.

Sifuna further alleged that armed individuals positioned in bushes along the route opened fire on the convoy.

“This was not crowd chaos. It was an ambush,” he said.

The movement also raised questions over the alleged apprehension of an unidentified man by its supporters in Nyandiwa. It claimed the man was travelling with some of the attackers in an unmarked black Toyota Prado.

According to Linda Mwananchi, the man identified himself as an officer attached to the National Intelligence Service (NIS), after which his mobile phone was taken into the custody of the group.

The movement claimed the phone subsequently received repeated calls from individuals identifying themselves as senior police officers and demanding its return.

Linda Mwananchi said it would preserve the device as potential evidence and consult its lawyers on engaging independent investigative and oversight bodies.

The group said at least 18 people were initially treated following the violence, with 12 evacuated to Kisumu for specialised care. Two patients underwent surgery while another underwent leg amputation, it said.

Two people subsequently succumbed to their injuries.

They included a police officer and a woman.

Sifuna called on Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, Kwabwai Ward MCA Richard Ouma Ogindo and other leaders whose names had emerged in connection with the violence to publicly explain what they knew about the events.

A staffer of Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda was among more than 40 people who were injured in the chaos indicating he and others were ferried to the area for chaos.

“Silence will be read as complicity,” the movement warned.

The group, however, praised police officers in Nyandiwa and Sindo whom it said refused to participate in efforts to disrupt its rallies.

It also commended medical workers in Homa Bay and Kisumu for treating the injured without discrimination.

Linda Mwananchi further thanked former MP Millie Odhiambo and Kisumu Woman Rep Ruth Adhiambo Odinga for publicly condemning the violence.

The movement called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority and the NIS Director-General to investigate and explain the alleged conduct and role of their officers.

It vowed to pursue accountability through the courts and other lawful institutions, insisting that the violence would not derail its political campaign.

“Yesterday was meant to break our resolve. Instead, it has strengthened it,” the statement said.