Protests broke out in parts of Homa Bay on Thursday night after detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested a man suspected of leading a gang linked to violent incidents in the county.
Groups of youths reportedly blocked roads and lit bonfires, demanding the suspect’s release after detectives arrested him on the night of October 8, 2026.
Images and videos from the scene showed burning tyres along roads leading to Homa Bay town, disrupting traffic and forcing some motorists to use alternative routes.
According to a police report, the arrest was carried out as detectives executed a warrant issued by the Homa Bay Law Courts on August 14.
The warrant relates to an alleged offence of assault causing actual bodily harm, contrary to Section 251 of the Penal Code.
During the operation, police also arrested seven other men accused of attempting to obstruct the detectives.
The protests followed the arrest of a suspect who has in recent months been linked to a youth group known as the Hammer Boys. The group has attracted public attention over allegations of involvement in political violence.
The suspect was also mentioned in connection with the chaos that erupted in Homa Bay on August 16, when leaders associated with the Linda Mwananchi movement visited the county for a political rally.
The rally was disrupted after groups of youths blocked the leaders’ convoy from accessing Homa Bay town. Three people were reportedly killed during the clashes.
Following the incident, police named the suspect as a person of interest in investigations into the deadly violence.
A report by KTN News also described him as an alleged leader of a local gang and said investigators were examining claims of links between him and senior government officials.
The latest arrest and protests have raised fresh concerns about security in Homa Bay, where political gatherings have previously been marred by violence.
