15 arrested with crude weapons in Kisumu as tension rises in Homa Bay ahead of Linda Mwananchi rally

At least 15 suspected members of a criminal gang were arrested and a cache of crude weapons recovered in Kisumu County following a coordinated operation. The operation was triggered by intelligence that a group with crude weapons was traveling on the Kisumu–Kericho highway. Tension was rising in Homa Bay Town ahead of a planned rally on Sunday, as hired goons blocked major routes with boulders and twigs.

The Linda Mwananchi brigade had been moving through the town from early Sunday, with no police presence, causing concerns about potential chaos. Hotels reported attacks and property vandalism by the goons, and a local politician was seen inciting violence. Interior officials assured the rally would be peaceful, but the Linda Mwananchi leaders had entered the town ahead of the event.

The seized weapons were believed to have been intended for use in Homa Bay to create unrest. Police sources indicated they received conflicting instructions, leading to the unrest. Acting on the information, detectives from the DCI Operations Support Unit, Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau, Nyanza Region, and DCI Kisumu Central intercepted the vehicles.

The suspects, including one leader who escaped, were taken into custody and are being processed for arraignment. The operation aims to disrupt criminal networks, keeping dangerous individuals and weapons off the streets and protecting the public.