Kakamega town witnessed a charged political showdown as thousands thronged Amalemba grounds for the Linda Mwananchi rally spearheaded by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.
By mid-morning, the usually busy streets had transformed into a sea of people chanting “Mwizi, Wantam” and waving Kenyan flags in protest against what they termed runaway corruption and economic hardship.
The procession began early, with supporters arriving on motorbikes, in matatus, and on foot. Chants of “Yote yawezekana bila Ruto” echoed through town, a direct swipe at President William Ruto and his administration. Traders briefly shut their shops as crowds surged toward the rally venue, creating a charged but largely controlled atmosphere.
Tension flared when police lobbed tear gas at sections of the crowd following skirmishes along key access roads. In a dramatic twist, a group of bodaboda riders allegedly hired to disrupt the gathering publicly switched allegiance.
Witnesses say they burned reflector jackets said to have been issued for the mission and joined the demonstrators instead, declaring solidarity with the opposition leaders.
Among the notable figures present were Siaya Senator James Orengo, Winnie Odinga, and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, signaling the rally’s political weight.
Addressing supporters from atop a vehicle, Sifuna criticized the “broad-based government” arrangement and called for accountability over taxation and alleged police excesses. Babu Owino urged young people to remain vocal but vigilant.
A smaller counter-group attempted to drown out the rally with chants backing local leadership, but their presence was overshadowed by the swelling crowd at Amalemba.
By afternoon, Kakamega remained tense yet energized, the rally underscoring widening political fault lines and a restless public mood that shows little sign of cooling.
