Members of Bunge La Wanainchi after their meeting in Kendu Bay town,Homa Bay County/Robert OmolloSome Homa Bay civil society leaders have urged politicians in the county to embrace tolerance to curb political violence.
The members of Homa Bay County Bunge La Wananchi said they do not want to see violence when Linda Mwananchi politicians come to the county.
Linda Mwananchi brigades are expected to hold their political rallies in Homa Bay County on August 26, 2026.
Homa Bay coordinator of the Linda Mwananchi Movement Samuel Nyauke, human rights defender Evance Oloo Gor and two other men were injured by youths last Tuesday.
Their assault by youths is linked to their affiliation with the movement.
The incident caused a protest that led to the destruction of goods and other property belonging to the business community in Homa Bay town.
Officials of Homa Bay Bunge La Wanainchi Michael Kojo and Evans Oloo Gor consult ahead of their meeting in Kendu Bay town, Homa Bay County/Robert Omollo
On Saturday, the civil society members, led by their speaker Imran Owino, spokesperson Evance Oloo Gor, attorney Michael Kojo and Secretary-General Lawrence Omoro, said the violence can only be curbed if politicians embrace tolerance and respect others' democratic rights.
Owino said the Constitution of Kenya allows every politician to access any part of the country to sell their policies.
He said it is wrong for some politicians to hire goons to prevent their colleagues from addressing residents of any county in Nyanza.
“We have witnessed violence on people linked to the Linda Mwananchi Movement in Homa Bay. Democracy allows Kenyans to associate with any political grouping so long as it is approved by law,” Owino said.
Speaking to journalists in Kendu Bay town, the civil society leaders said it was wrong for some politicians to hire goons to attack their opponents despite their freedom of association and movement.
He told youths to avoid being used by politicians to cause chaos.
“Let youths keep off the enmity between politicians because politicians don’t fight each other physically and their enmity is temporary. The people who bear the brunt of violence are the youth,” he said.
Kojo challenged political leaders to be role models in political tolerance in the county.
“The multiparty democracy can't be actualised if we don’t embrace political tolerance. Political leaders should be tolerant to one another to enable us to have peace in Homa Bay,” Kojo said.
Omoro urged leaders to embrace politics that promotes development.
“We appeal to our political leaders to promote peace because development cannot be achieved when violence mars our county,” Omoro said.
Gor said political violence was jeopardising business in Homa Bay. He expressed concerns that many traders lost their goods during the violence on Tuesday.
“Massive looting took place in which many women lost their goods during the violence and they need to be compensated. I urge politicians to condemn the violence,” Gor said.
He urged Ministry of Interior officials to boost security in Homa Bay. He warned that failure to respond positively may force residents to protect themselves against goons.
“The government [needs] to protect the people of Homa Bay from goons. Failure to do so may force civilians to take care of their own security but we don’t want to take that direction,” he said.
