Teargas Lobbed at Amalemba Grounds Ahead of Sifuna’s Rally
Kakamega, Kenya – Tensions flared in Kakamega County on Saturday morning after teargas canisters were lobbed at event organisers preparing for the Linda Mwananchi rally at Amalemba Grounds. The incident disrupted final arrangements for the highly anticipated political gathering, which is expected to draw leaders allied to Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, and Siaya Governor James Orengo.
Images obtained by Kenyans.co.ke show plainclothed police officers throwing the canisters into the venue, forcing organisers to halt preparations as smoke engulfed the grounds. Witnesses reported confusion and panic among those present, though no injuries were immediately confirmed.
Police Allegations
The disruption comes amid claims by Western Region Police Commander Issa Muhamoud that Senator Sifuna intended to bring armed individuals to the Kakamega rally without notifying authorities.
“The recent intelligence reports suggest that armed individuals are being ferried into Kakamega town for the rally, yet no formal notification has been given to the police,” Muhamoud alleged.
Under the Public Order Act, organisers are required to notify police in writing at least three days before holding a public rally. Authorities argue that failure to comply undermines security planning and exposes participants to risk.
Sifuna’s Response
Senator Sifuna dismissed the allegations, insisting that he had formally notified the police and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen of the rally. He said the notice was shared both with the Kakamega OCPD and directly with Murkomen via WhatsApp, as well as circulated in the Senate WhatsApp group where Murkomen remains a member.
“Since Murkomen remains on the Senate WhatsApp group as a former senator, I have shared the notice of the Kakamega rally both in the group and directly to his personal WhatsApp number, so he cannot later claim he was unaware of the event, as he did with the Kitengela rally,” Sifuna stated.
Despite the morning disruption, Sifuna vowed that the rally would proceed as planned, with allied leaders expected to address supporters on issues ranging from governance to the rising cost of living.
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Background of Tensions
The incident comes just days after the Kitengela rally organised by ODM leaders was violently disrupted by police, leaving two people dead and more than 50 injured. Interior CS Murkomen later claimed that organisers had failed to notify police and accused them of deliberately staging rallies on market days to attract crowds.
Opposition leaders have rejected these claims, accusing the government of using police force to suppress dissent. They argue that repeated disruptions of rallies amount to violations of constitutional rights to assembly and free expression.
Broader Implications
Analysts say the Kakamega incident highlights the growing mistrust between opposition leaders and state security agencies. With rallies increasingly targeted, questions are being raised about the balance between maintaining public order and safeguarding democratic freedoms.
Human rights groups are expected to weigh in, particularly given the use of teargas against organisers before the rally had even begun.
Conclusion
As the Linda Mwananchi rally prepares to go ahead in Kakamega despite the morning disruption, the confrontation at Amalemba Grounds underscores the escalating political tensions between opposition leaders and the government. With both sides trading accusations over notification procedures and security concerns, the rally is likely to serve as another flashpoint in Kenya’s ongoing debate over political freedoms and state authority.
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Teargas Lobbed at Amalemba Grounds Ahead of Sifuna’s Rally
