Deadly Homa Bay clashes during Linda Mwananchi rally leave officer dead, dozens injured

Homa Bay witnessed deadly clashes during a political rally organized by the Linda Mwananchi movement, leaving a police officer dead and numerous others injured, according to police reports. The violence erupted on Sunday night and claimed the life of a police officer who succumbed to his injuries while being transported to a hospital in Kisumu. Another officer was seriously injured, suffering head trauma among other wounds.

The police incident report detailed the horrendous aftermath of the unrest, which also resulted in several vehicles being set ablaze. Among the seven destroyed vehicles were a Land Rover, a Subaru Legacy, two Toyota Land Cruisers, a Toyota Probox, an Isuzu D-Max, and a Toyota Fortuner owned by the Siaya County Government. Numerous civilians were also injured, with gunshot wounds, deep cuts, fractures, and even fingers being severed with a panga.

One victim's injuries were so severe that they lost several fingers while another suffered a severe head injury and a stab wound to the stomach.

The police deployed live ammunition, tear gas, smoke grenades, and rubber-ball grenades to control the situation. They also reported that three makuti houses were razed to the ground, while another suffered damage. Additionally, windows of a church conference room, an SDA church office, and a 1,000-litre water tank were destroyed. Police vehicles were also damaged, with shattered windscreens, broken mirrors, and other extensive body damage.

Authorities have opened an investigation into the violence, which took place during a rally led by Senator Edwin Sifuna and other Linda Mwananchi leaders. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of political gatherings, especially in the lead-up to the 2027 polls.