NAIROBI, Kenya — Rebels within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) are preparing for a high‑profile rally in Kakamega this Saturday, marking the second major stop of its “Linda Mwananchi” tour after a chaotic event in Kitengela last weekend.
While the Kitengela rally was peaceful, goons destroyed the sound system and police used teargas and fired in the air to disperse the huge crowd. One person was shot dead.
The meeting, scheduled for Amalemba Grounds on February 21, 2026, has become a focal point in an ongoing political struggle within ODM as a faction led by party Secretary‑General Edwin Sifuna intensifies grassroots mobilisation across the country.
Leaders allied to Sifuna, including ODM Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi and veteran politician and Siaya Governor James Orengo, have publicly vowed that the rally will proceed peacefully and without disruption.
Orengo described the event as “a tsunami” that no force can stop, reflecting confidence among Sifuna’s supporters in the movement’s momentum ahead of the Kakamega meeting.
“We are not happy with what has been happening within the ODM party — the surrender of the party to hostile forces whose interests are contrary to those of ODM and its members. We want the party to remain united and intact,” Orengo said
James Orengo: We are not happy with what has been happening within the ODM party — the surrender of the party to hostile forces whose interests are contrary to those of ODM and its members. We want the party to remain united and intact.
He said the rallies are meant to oppose what he termed a hostile takeover by President William Ruto.
“This thing is huge; it’s a tsunami and unstoppable, no force on earth is going to stand in our way, so rest assured that this meeting is going to take place,” he asserted.
The rally comes on the heels of a tense Sunday gathering in Kitengela, which drew thousands of supporters but was cut short after police fired tear gas and exchanged confrontations with parts of the crowd.
Footage from that event showed Sifuna, Osotsi, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, and other figures speaking before disruptions unfolded.
“Let us all attend the meeting in Kakamega to send a message to William Ruto that your days are numbered. We cannot continue to have a regime that does not tolerate divergent opinions,” Osotsi said ahead of Saturday’s rally.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen later said police were not properly briefed about the Kitengela event, highlighting missteps in communication with authorities.
Preparations for the Kakamega rally have encountered fresh challenges.
Godfrey Osotsi: Let us all attend the meeting in Kakamega to send a message to William Ruto that your days are numbered. We cannot continue to have a regime that does not tolerate divergent opinions.
A donation‑funded campaign truck fitted with a powerful sound system — meant to help amplify messages during the tour — was stoned and damaged as it travelled through Kisumu County, according to Sifuna.
He described the incident as an act of intimidation but said the journey to Kakamega would continue as planned.
Meanwhile, tensions surrounding the rally have spilled over into local politics.
In Kakamega town, some residents have threatened to occupy the homes of local MPs who visited State House, Nairobi, to meet President William Ruto, alleging plans to disrupt the gatherings.
Supporters insist that Sifuna’s team has the right to stage meetings and that any attempt to block them would provoke a strong reaction.
The Linda Mwananchi tour has also drawn attention from unexpected quarters. Prominent former senator Millicent Omanga publicly distanced herself from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and signalled support for the movement, describing it as centred on the people’s voice ahead of the Kakamega event.
