Amnesty Kenya calls for accountability over Homa Bay violence against Linda Mwananchi team

Amnesty International Kenya has spoken out against violence that erupted during political activities in Homa Bay County. In a statement released on Sunday, the human rights organization expressed deep concern over reports of attacks on journalists, media disruptions, road blockades, and intimidation tactics tied to political events in the region.

Amnesty alleged that some groups were specifically targeting lodging areas where supporters or leaders of the Linda Mwananchi movement might be staying. The group warned that these occurrences threatened key constitutional rights, including expression, media freedom, access to information, freedom of movement, peaceful assembly, political engagement, and personal security.

Amnesty International Kenya urged the National Police Service and other relevant authorities to act swiftly to restore security and safeguard journalists, human rights activists, political figures, businesses, and residents. The organization also demanded swift, independent, impartial, and transparent investigations into the reported incidents.

These investigations should probe attacks on journalists, destruction of property, media broadcast interruptions, intimidation, and restrictions on movement. Amnesty emphasized that anyone found accountable should face legal consequences, regardless of whether they are private citizens, political players, or public officials. The group also called for an impartial review of security agencies' actions to determine if they failed to prevent violence, protect individuals, or uphold constitutional rights.

According to Amnesty, accountability is crucial to rebuild public trust and discourage similar events from happening again. The organization insisted that the National Police Service must perform its duties professionally, impartially, and in line with national and international human rights standards. Security forces should support citizens' right to enjoy their freedoms rather than impede them.

Amnesty urged the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, the National Police Service, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to investigate individuals, including political leaders, implicated in inciting violence, spreading hate speech, or attacking political opponents, journalists, or ordinary citizens. The call came as political tensions escalated in Homa Bay as the Linda Mwananchi movement moved to hold rallies, encountering road blockages and police intervention, including the use of tear gas in Ndhiwa after a group tried to halt the march.

Amnesty cautioned against these incidents becoming a part of Kenya's political culture as the nation approaches the 2027 General Election. The group stressed that authorities must ensure political actors, journalists, and residents can exercise their constitutional rights without facing violence or intimidation and called for equal protection under the law and media independence.

Amnesty stressed that impunity for political violence and intimidation should not be accepted in a democratic society and urged authorities to address reported violations and hold those responsible accountable.