Matiang’i Condemns Homa Bay Chaos, Accuses Government of Allowing Political Goons to Operate

By Monyonge Kebati

Jubilee presidential candidate Dr. Fred Matiang’i has condemned the violence witnessed in Homa Bay County during the Linda Mwananchi rally, accusing the government of allowing political goons to intimidate Kenyans who oppose what he described as the “two-term narrative.”

Speaking to journalists at the Jubilee Party headquarters in Nairobi, Matiang’i said the violence witnessed in Homa Bay was part of a worrying pattern of political intolerance that was spreading across the country.

The former Interior Cabinet Secretary also condemned the attack on his two vehicles in Bomet on Friday, as well as violence reported during a DCP rally in Nakuru and Salgaa.

Matiang’i said the latest incidents in Homa Bay demonstrated that political violence was becoming increasingly common ahead of the 2027 General Election.

He questioned why security agencies had failed to prevent or contain the violence despite having sufficient resources to maintain law and order.

Having previously served as Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Matiang’i said he understood the capacity of the security agencies and insisted that police officers had the resources required to deal with political unrest.

According to Matiang’i, the challenge was political interference in security operations, which he alleged was preventing officers from acting independently and decisively.

“The police have enough resources to contain such chaos,” Matiang’i said, arguing that politicians had interfered with security matters.

The Jubilee presidential hopeful further condemned what he described as ongoing violence in Kisii County, saying the incidents were happening openly and in broad daylight.

He called on the government to take responsibility for protecting all Kenyans regardless of their political affiliations and to ensure that political competition does not degenerate into violence.

Matiang’i’s remarks came a day after confrontations were reported in Homa Bay during the Linda Mwananchi political rally, where groups of youths were seen clashing and blocking roads.

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has since condemned the Homa Bay violence, warning political leaders and their supporters against intolerance, incitement and the use of youths to perpetrate political violence.