Homa Bay Rally Chaos: Arrests Begin as Questions Over Political Violence Grow

By Erick Githuku Mbogo

The battle for ideas has been hijacked by machetes—Kenya must decide if this is its future. Two lives lost, dozens wounded, and a nation asking: can 2027 be secured?

Two days after violence disrupted the Linda Mwananchi political tour in Homa Bay, attention has shifted from the scenes of chaos to the difficult questions of accountability, security and the safety of political participation ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The National Police Service says it has arrested 37 suspected gang members in connection with Sunday's violence, as investigations continue to establish the role of those involved and identify other people who may have participated in the unrest. Police said some of those arrested were found in possession of crude weapons, including machetes, knives, metal rods, rungus and batons.

The arrests mark the first major response from authorities after the violence left at least two people dead and dozens injured. Those killed included a police officer, while reports from local health authorities and media outlets indicate that civilians were also among those injured.

But beyond the arrests, the incident has opened a wider debate over how political rallies are secured and whether Kenya is doing enough to prevent organized violence from becoming part of the country's political culture.

The police have said their investigations will extend beyond those arrested at the scene. According to the National Police Service, other actors who may have participated in the violence are being pursued, including possible organizers, facilitators and sponsors of criminal activities.

That statement could prove significant because the central question following the violence is no longer simply who was physically involved in the clashes, but whether there were people who organized or financed the violence.

Political accusations have already begun to emerge.

Linda Mwananchi leaders have accused rogue police officers of being involved in what they described as coordinated violence during their tour. Those allegations have not been independently established, and the group has called for investigations into what happened.

Meanwhile, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission has summoned Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma to record a statement over remarks allegedly made at a rally on Saturday, a day before the Linda Mwananchi tour. The development adds another layer to the investigation into the political environment surrounding Sunday's events.

The violence also affected journalists covering the event.

The Kisumu Journalists Network has called for investigations and prosecution after journalists covering the rally were reportedly assaulted, while some equipment and media vehicles were damaged. Such attacks raise concerns about the ability of journalists to independently document political events at a time when public scrutiny of political activities is increasingly important.

For residents, however, the aftermath is about more than politics.

According to Citizen Digital, the violent scenes left 2 dead ,53 others nursing deep cut wounds. The price of political intolerance yet again rearing its ugly heads. Citizen Digital reported that several vehicles were set on fire and that the headquarters of the Seventh Day Adventist Church's Lake Victoria Field was also damaged during the unrest. The church's leadership thereafter called for dialogue among Homa Bay leaders to prevent further bloodshed.

The incident has therefore placed pressure on both the government and political actors to demonstrate that the violence will not simply disappear from the national conversation once the news cycle moves on.

For the police, the challenge is to ensure that the ongoing arrests lead to credible investigations and prosecution where evidence supports criminal charges. For political leaders, the challenge is to condemn violence consistently, including when it involves their own supporters.

The Law Society of Kenya has also called for those responsible to be punished, victims to be compensated and the rights of Kenyans participating in political activities to be protected.

The Homa Bay incident is now becoming an early warning sign as Kenya moves closer to the August 2027 elections.

The arrests may provide an initial response, but accountability will ultimately depend on whether investigations establish who planned, financed or participated in the violence and whether those found responsible are brought before the law.

For Homa Bay residents and the wider Kenyan public, the expectation is straightforward: political disagreement should remain a contest of ideas, not a trigger for violence.

What happened on Sunday may have lasted hours, but the test of the authorities and political leaders will be what happens in the days and weeks that follow.

 Politics.