NAIROBI (GG) — Violent confrontations and disruptions broke out at multiple political rallies hosted by the opposition Linda Mwananchi movement in Kisumu and Nyahururu, resulting in at least one death, multiple injuries, and competing narratives regarding gunfire.
A formal security briefing broadcast via a National Police Service statement on YouTube confirmed that a violent clash between opposing political factions in Kisumu City led to the death of one person, injuries to several civilians, the torching of nine motorcycles, and the destruction of a police vehicle. Law enforcement authorities stated that swift police intervention resulted in the arrest of eight suspects who are currently held in custody pending arraignment.
Simultaneously, chaos disrupted a separate Linda Mwananchi event in Nyahururu Town when a group of individuals attempted to halt a political rally by throwing stones. According to a People Daily report, Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata announced on his official social media account that his personal driver had been shot and hospitalized with a bullet lodged in his chest during the Nyahururu melee.
However, official updates from the National Police Service directly disputed the shooting allegations, asserting that no firearms were discharged during the Nyahururu disturbance. Police officials reported that several members of the public sustained minor injuries from thrown stones—including one civilian treated for a chest trauma—and confirmed the arrest of six suspects at the scene.
A separate political dispatch published by Kenyans.co.ke detailed that the escalation comes amid rising tensions surrounding the upcoming July 16 parliamentary by-election in Ol Kalou, prompting human rights watchdogs to sound alarms over potential electoral infractions. Opposition leaders, including Bumula Member of Parliament Jack Wamboka, have condemned the incidents, accusing state authorities of deploying organized criminal groups to systematically intimidate opposition activities ahead of the 2027 general election.
