Police have claimed that 15 suspects arrested along the Kisumu-Kericho Road were allegedly hired to disrupt political activities in the area.
The National Police Service (NPS) said the suspects were arrested on Saturday, August 15, 2026, during an intelligence-led operation after officers received information about a group travelling in vehicles while armed with crude weapons.
In a statement, the NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said the suspects were found in possession of various weapons and remained in lawful custody pending arraignment.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that they are hired criminals who allegedly planned to disrupt political activities in the area,” Nyaga said.
The police service, however, did not clarify whether the suspects were travelling towards Homa Bay County, where the Linda Mwananchi Movement had planned to hold a political rally on Sunday.
The arrests came a day before the planned rally amid heightened political tension in parts of Nyanza.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had earlier said detectives moved in after receiving intelligence that a group suspected to be armed with crude weapons was travelling along the Kisumu-Kericho highway.
“Acting swiftly on the information, detectives from the DCI Operations Support Unit (OSU), working alongside officers from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB), Nyanza Region, and DCI Kisumu Central, moved in and intercepted the vehicles,” the DCI said.
The suspects were intercepted aboard a grey Toyota Noah and two white Toyota Hiace vans.
The two vans were operating under a matatu Sacco serving the Kisumu-Migori route.
A search of the vehicles and the suspects resulted in the recovery of several mobile phones and an assortment of crude weapons, including machetes and pangas, knives, ropes and a metal rod or club.
One of the suspects believed to be the group's leader, reportedly escaped during the operation after jumping through a vehicle window.
Detectives have since launched a manhunt for him.
The arrests came as tension was reported in Homa Bay Town early Sunday morning after roads leading into and out of the town were reportedly barricaded ahead of the Linda Mwananchi rally.
Videos circulating on social media showed large stones placed across sections of roads, preventing vehicles from accessing parts of the town.
The stones appeared to have been placed overnight, with footage recorded at around 7am showing some roads rendered impassable.
The developments raised concerns over whether attempts were being made to disrupt the political gathering, although there was no immediate official confirmation linking the road blockades to the 15 suspects arrested along the Kisumu-Kericho Road.
The NPS warned politicians, organisers and members of the public against actions that could undermine peace during political activities.
