The events that unfolded in Homa Bay this past weekend were not just a political disruption—they were an assault on the very foundations of our democracy. What was meant to be a peaceful political rally for the Linda Mwananchi movement descended into a nightmare of violence, destruction, and death. And we, as a nation, must say with one voice: **Enough is enough.**
Over the weekend, hired goons—armed with machetes, stones, metal rods, and other crude weapons—unleashed a reign of terror on Homa Bay Town. The violence, which began on Saturday night when youths stormed the Homa Bay Tourist Hotel, shattering windows and destroying property worth an estimated Sh30 million, escalated into full-blown chaos on Sunday.
By the time the dust settled, the death toll had risen to four. Among the dead was Police Constable Jimrichardson Onkundi, a police officer who was struck on the head by a stone while returning from providing security at the rally. A Ugandan woman was run over by a speeding vehicle in the chaos. Another body was later found in Oyugis with stab wounds. More than 40 people were injured, many critically, with some suffering deep panga cuts and gunshot wounds.
The destruction was staggering. Six vehicles were torched, roads were barricaded with stones, businesses were looted, and even a church—the Seventh Day Adventist Church headquarters in Lala village—was vandalized. Journalists doing nothing more than their duty were attacked, injured, and threatened with death. The estimated economic loss has been put at over one billion Kenyan shillings.
This Was Not Spontaneous—It Was Orchestrated
Let us be clear: what we witnessed in Homa Bay was not random hooliganism. This was organized, premeditated violence carried out by hired goons.
Former Homa Bay Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga has rightly called for the arrest of politicians alleged to have incited these attacks. A senior politician in the region was captured on video urging youths to “flush out” Linda Mwananchi supporters and to inspect hotels to ensure they could not book accommodation. This is incitement, plain and simple. And those who incite violence must face the full force of the law.
The National Police Service has already arrested 37 suspects and is pursuing more. But arrests of foot soldiers are not enough. The organizers, the financiers, the politicians who armed these goons and pointed them at their political opponents must also be held accountable. As NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga stated, “Those who recruit, finance, mobilise, arm or otherwise facilitate criminal elements to cause violence and disorder will be pursued and brought to justice”.
A Dangerous Precedent
This violence is not an isolated incident. It is part of a troubling pattern of political thuggery that threatens to undo the democratic gains we have made as a nation. As Magwanga warned, such incidents could take Kenya back to the dark days of the 2008 post-election violence, when hundreds of Kenyans lost their lives.
When political differences are settled with machetes instead of ballots, when churches are vandalized, when journalists are attacked for simply doing their jobs, when police officers are killed while trying to maintain order—we are on a slippery slope toward anarchy.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) rightly condemned the violence, stating that “no political gathering, whatever its organisers, objectives or message, should become an occasion for violence, intimidation or the disruption of the rights and livelihoods of citizens”. The party also warned against individuals invoking its name to justify violence.
We Must Draw a Line
Fellow Kenyans, we cannot allow this to continue. Every citizen has the right to peaceful assembly and political expression. Every journalist has the right to cover events without fear of being hunted down and threatened with death. Every business owner has the right to operate without fear of having their property destroyed. Every worshipper has the right to pray in peace. Every police officer has the right to return home safely to their family after a day of duty.
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission has begun summoning political actors over this incident. This is a step in the right direction. But we need more than summons. We need prosecutions. We need convictions. We need to send a clear message that political violence will not be tolerated—by anyone, regardless of their status or political affiliation.
To the government: pursue the organizers and financiers of this violence with the same vigor with which you pursue the foot soldiers. No one should be above the law.
To political leaders: condemn this violence unequivocally. Stop the inflammatory rhetoric that emboldens goons. Remember that your words have consequences.
To the media: keep reporting. Keep shining a light on these injustices. Your work is essential to holding power accountable.
To every Kenyan: reject leaders who use violence to achieve their political ends. Demand accountability. And never forget that our democracy is only as strong as our collective willingness to defend it.
The blood spilled in Homa Bay this weekend is on all our hands if we remain silent. Let us speak up. Let us act. And let us ensure that such tragedy never happens again.
Never again!