A political rally led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna turned chaotic on Sunday after police fired teargas and shots in the air to disperse thousands of supporters gathered in Kitengela.
The event, part of the Linda Mwananchi tour, was organised by a faction of opposition leaders including Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino. The rally, which drew a large crowd of mostly young supporters, began peacefully along the Nairobi–Namanga Road but later descended into confusion as police moved in to break up the gathering.
Traffic along the busy highway was disrupted as supporters filled the streets, waving party flags and chanting slogans. Sifuna, who was recently ousted as ODM Secretary General but maintains he still holds the position, used the platform to criticise what he described as attempts to silence dissent within the opposition.
“When you defeat them in debate, they resort to violence. They have said they will disrupt any rally we hold,” Sifuna said earlier during a church service in Kitengela attended by several party rebels.
Witnesses reported that police lobbed multiple teargas canisters into the crowd, sending people fleeing in all directions. Thick plumes of smoke filled the air as officers fired shots in the air to disperse the gathering. Videos circulating online showed panicked supporters running for safety as the sound system and dais were destroyed, abruptly ending the event.
In a statement released shortly after the incident, Sifuna condemned the police action and thanked Kitengela residents for turning up despite what he termed as state intimidation.
“Thank You Kitengela. In spite of all the harassment, intimidation and violence from this morning you showed up. They first destroyed our dais and sound equipment in the morning, the state goons have now teargassed a peaceful assembly and brought it to an abrupt end. We shall not relent,” he said.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the incident. The Linda Mwananchi tour, which aims to rally public support against what organisers call government overreach, is expected to continue in other towns across the country despite the disruption.
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