Linda Mwananchi supporters in Homa Bay town during their rally in Homa Bay County./ROBERT OMOLLO
A police officer has been rushed to hospital for treatment after sustaining head injuries during a Linda Mwananchi rally in Homa Bay town.
The officer was taken to Homa County Teaching and Referral Hospital after he was injured on the head while police were dispersing youths who had blocked the Linda Mwananchi team from accessing Homa Bay town.
The incident occurred after the team had successfully held rallies in Nyandiwa and Sindo trading centres in Suba South Constituency, led by area MP Caroli Omondi.
According to Homa Bay County Police Commander Lawrence Koilem, youths allied to ODM had blocked the road to prevent the Sifuna-led team from accessing Homa Bay town.
Koilem said the injured officer was among a contingent deployed to maintain law and order between the rival groups.
“The officer was hit on the head during the fracas. We rushed him to the hospital for medical attention,” Koilem said.
About five youths were arrested during the incident. Rangwe MP aspirant and Linda Mwananchi Movement member Clifford Obiero was also arrested.
His car and that of Samuel Nyauke, the Homa Bay County Linda Mwananchi coordinator, were damaged.
Nyauke reported to Homa Bay Police Station that they had been attacked by a group of people.
The Linda Mwananchi team eventually accessed Homa Bay town at around 6:50pm after concluding their rally in Sindo.
Koilem was also injured during the incident after a stone hit his left foot.
“Officers could not allow the Linda Mwananchi team to conduct their campaigns in Homa Bay town because it was already dark. Some youths were throwing stones aimlessly,” he said.
The Linda Mwananchi leaders who visited Homa Bay included Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Siaya Governor James Orengo, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, Caroli Omondi and Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, among others.
Owino said they would not allow any politician to deny Kenyans their freedom of association and speech.
“They tried to deny us access to Homa Bay, but we managed. We’ll come again to Homa Bay,” Owino said.
Earlier, Sifuna claimed that some leaders in ODM were dictators. He said they had ignored an agreement signed between UDA and ODM that was intended to address extrajudicial killings in the country.
“We have seen young Kenyans continue to die in the hands of the police. "That's why we say 'One Term' to President William Ruto,” Sifuna said.
Orengo said they would not be intimidated by leaders seeking to benefit personally from the government.
He said leaders supporting the broad-based government would not stop them from campaigning in Homa Bay.
“Linda Mwananchi is an unstoppable movement, and it will not end in Homa Bay. We’re out to liberate Kenyans from the dictatorial regime,” Orengo said.
Omondi thanked Homa Bay residents for turning up for their rally, saying he had witnessed a strong turnout in Sindo and Nyandiwa trading centres in his constituency.
“They tried in vain to scare us, but they didn’t manage. The triumphant entry to Homa Bay was in the open,” Omondi said.
