Kaluma defends remarks, says Homa Bay residents were provoked

Nairobi, Kenya – Homa Bay Town's representative, George Kaluma, has defended his remarks made prior to the Linda Mwananchi rally, asserting that residents were provoked and the situation could have escalated further if they had responded to what he perceived as deliberate provocation. Kaluma claims his statements were taken out of context and misinterpreted, and he has requested an investigation by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).

He stated that his concerns were based on security issues, legal requirements for hotels to maintain guest records, and allegations of individuals being mobilized to cause violence during the rally. Kaluma also accused security agencies of being compromised, alleging that some police officers facilitated the movement of dangerous criminals.

He demanded investigations into Siaya Governor James Orengo, former Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, former Homa Bay MP Caroli Omondi, and Senator Edwin Sifuna, accusing them of having links with criminal elements. Kaluma further alleged that the violence could have been avoided if residents had not responded aggressively to the provocation and that the objective of the Linda Mwananchi procession was to provoke Homa Bay residents into retaliating, potentially leading to a wider political and ethnic conflict in the region.