Img 20260816 Wa0019
Tension engulfed Homa Bay town after tear gas was lobbed at the Linda Mwananchi convoy as it moved through the county, sending crowds who had gathered along the route scattering in different directions for their safety.
The convoy ran into trouble after encountering stretches of road that had been barricaded and littered with stones, forcing leaders of the movement to make an unplanned stop while supporters worked to clear the path so the procession could continue.
The disruption unfolded against a backdrop of heightened political tension in the region, with police officers deployed to escort the convoy throughout its activities in the county. Reports indicate that sections of road had been blocked with boulders even before the rallies began, hampering movement in the area.
Despite the setbacks, the Linda Mwananchi Movement, fronted by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna alongside other leaders, pressed on with its schedule. Sifuna went on to address a large crowd of residents who turned out in Nyandiwa.
The chaos comes as political activity intensifies in Homa Bay ahead of the 2027 General Election, raising concerns about the safety of both political actors and the public.
Amnesty International Kenya has since condemned the violence, citing attacks on journalists, interference with media coverage and destruction of property during the political events. The rights body also flagged reports of road blockades and intimidation, faulting security agencies for failing to act swiftly to protect residents.
Amnesty said it was particularly troubled by claims that groups had targeted lodging facilities believed to be hosting Linda Mwananchi leaders and their supporters, warning that such actions threaten core constitutional freedoms, including expression, assembly and movement.
The organisation has called for urgent, impartial investigations and demanded that all those responsible, whether ordinary citizens or public officials, be held accountable under the law.
About The Author
