Crowds Unmoved as Teargas is Fired Moments Before Sifuna Addresses Rally

Crowds Unmoved as Teargas is Fired Moments Before Sifuna Addresses Rally

Kakamega, Kenya – Supporters of the Linda Mwananchi movement in Kakamega stood their ground on Saturday after police lobbed teargas canisters into the crowd moments before Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna took the stage to address them.

Despite the disruption, the rally proceeded as planned, with Sifuna urging his supporters to remain calm and avoid confrontation with security officers.

“We shall not relent,” Sifuna declared, calling on attendees to safely disperse the teargas canisters and desist from throwing stones at police.

Police Concerns

The incident came just a day after Western Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud assured residents that peace would prevail during the rally. He had warned that police would be deployed if necessary, citing intelligence reports that armed individuals were being ferried into Kakamega to provide security for the event.

“We never received any formal communication from Senator Sifuna informing us of the planned rally. What we saw were posts circulating on social media,” Mohamud said.

Authorities maintain that under the Public Order Act, organisers are required to notify police in writing at least three days before holding a rally.

Sifuna’s Position

Sifuna disputed the police commander’s claims, insisting that he had formally notified both the Kakamega OCPD and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen. He said the notice was shared via WhatsApp and 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.

The senator accused the government of unleashing state violence and hiring goons to disrupt opposition rallies. He explicitly faulted President William Ruto and CS Murkomen, saying they were intolerant of democratic competition.

“We shall not relent, and I thank Kitengela residents for their resilience in showing up despite the morning’s intimidation,” Sifuna added, referencing the earlier rally in Kitengela that left two people dead and more than 50 injured.

Government’s Response

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen has consistently argued that opposition rallies have not been properly notified to police, making it difficult to guarantee security. He dismissed Sifuna’s accusations, insisting that law enforcement agencies act within the law.

“The police were not issued with an official notice on the planned protests,” Murkomen said, adding that he would require “receipts” of notification in future to avoid similar disputes.

Broader Context

The confrontation in Kakamega reflects growing tensions between opposition leaders and the government over the right to assemble. Analysts warn that repeated disruptions of rallies risk escalating political divisions, while human rights groups are expected to condemn the use of teargas against peaceful gatherings.

The Linda Mwananchi movement has positioned itself as a grassroots platform challenging government policies, with rallies across the country often drawing large crowds despite heavy police presence.

Conclusion

As tear gas filled Amalemba Grounds, supporters of the Linda Mwananchi movement refused to disperse, underscoring their determination to press forward despite intimidation. With Senator Sifuna vowing to continue the rallies and the government insisting on stricter compliance with notification laws, the standoff highlights Kenya’s ongoing struggle to balance public order with constitutional freedoms of assembly and expression.

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Crowds Unmoved as Teargas is Fired Moments Before Sifuna Addresses Rally