NAIROBI, Kenya- Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has condemned the violence witnessed in Homa Bay ahead of the Linda Mwananchi rallies, warning political leaders against using young people to disrupt political gatherings and settle political differences through violence.
In a statement on Sunday, Odinga said she was deeply troubled by the events in Homa Bay, particularly reports of attacks on political convoys and journalists covering the planned rallies.
“My heart is bleeding at the events preceding Homa Bay Linda Mwananchi’s scheduled rallies today,” she said.
Odinga condemned what she described as the use of young people to carry out violent attacks aimed at stopping Linda Mwananchi from conducting its rallies.
She also strongly condemned the assault on AFP journalists Fred Ooko and Brian Ongoro, who were attacked while covering the unfolding situation in Homa Bay.
The two journalists were reportedly assaulted by armed youths, with their cameras, press cards, driving licences and other belongings taken during the attack. They later reported the incident to Homa Bay Police Station.
“An attack on the press is an attack on every Kenyan’s right to know,” Odinga said.
‘Attack on convoy is attack on Kenyans’
Odinga said attacks on political convoys were equally an assault on constitutional freedoms, including freedom of movement, assembly and association.
She urged political actors to allow opponents to campaign and engage citizens without intimidation.
The comments came as Homa Bay experienced significant disruption on Sunday, with groups blocking roads and businesses and transport services affected in parts of Homa Bay Town.
A hotel in Homa Bay was also reportedly raided twice by armed youths allegedly searching for Linda Mwananchi supporters. Police reports indicated that property was destroyed and items stolen during the incidents.
Ruth invokes Nyanza’s political history
Odinga, who comes from one of Kenya’s prominent political families, invoked the region’s history in the struggle for multiparty democracy and political freedoms.
She recalled the political struggles of her late father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, saying he endured detention and political repression for advocating for greater political choice in Kenya.
She also cited other historical figures, including Tom Mboya, Argwings-Kodhek and Prof Crispin Odhiambo Mbai, as examples of people who made sacrifices during Kenya’s political struggles.
Odinga said the violence witnessed in Homa Bay was inconsistent with the democratic ideals associated with the region’s political history.
“We have had men and women who believed political disagreement should be settled with argument, not with pangas, stones, and hired goons,” she said.
“They believed that a rally is not a crime and that a dissenting voice is not an enemy.”
‘This is not the Nyanza they bled for’
Odinga said the attacks on journalists, political convoys and disruption of movement should force political leaders and residents to reflect on the direction of politics in the region.
“This is not the Nyanza they bled for. This is not the democracy they envisioned,” she said.
Her remarks came as Linda Mwananchi leaders continued their political programme in Homa Bay despite the disruptions.
The movement’s scheduled programme included stops in Nyandiwa, Sindo and Homa Bay Town, with leaders led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Siaya Governor James Orengo.
Orengo’s convoy was attacked in Ndhiwa, with the governor later accusing police of failing to adequately protect the team.
‘We are rattling towards a dark abyss’
Odinga placed responsibility on political leaders, accusing them of mobilising and financing young people to disrupt lawful political gatherings.
“We, the leaders, stand accused. We are the ones mobilizing and funding the youth to disrupt lawful gatherings,” she said.
She warned that continued political violence could have consequences beyond the immediate confrontations.
“We are rattling pretty fast towards a dark abyss, and when we get there, getting out of it will be a different story,” she said.
Odinga called for an immediate end to the violence and urged leaders to ensure political disagreements remain peaceful.
“So this madness must just stop; otherwise we will not have a country,” she said.
“We owe our children a Homa Bay and a Nyanza, where political disagreement is a conversation, not a battlefield.”
