Tension was reported in Oyugis, Homa Bay County, on Sunday after tyres were set ablaze at Oyugis Junction as the Linda Mwananchi movement prepared to hold a major rally in the ODM stronghold.
The incident came hours before Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Siaya Governor James Orengo and other Linda Mwananchi leaders were expected in the county for the Sunday, August 16, rally.
Photos and videos circulating online showed burning tyres at the junction, raising concerns over possible disruption of the opposition group’s activities.
However, there was no immediate confirmation from police on who set the tyres on fire or whether the incident was directly linked to the rally.
The development comes against the backdrop of growing political tensions in Homa Bay ahead of the visit.
Linda Mwananchi leaders had already raised concerns over alleged plans to disrupt their rally, with Orengo accusing some local political leaders of mobilising youths against the movement.
“No amount of threats will stop us from holding our meeting in Homa Bay,” Orengo said while defending the planned rally.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has since assured the movement of security, warning that anyone attempting to disrupt the gathering would face action.
“Whichever political formation they are, everyone has a right to hold a meeting anywhere in the country,” Omollo said.
The choice of Homa Bay for the rally carries political significance.
The county has traditionally been regarded as one of ODM’s strongest bases, making the visit an important test for the Linda Mwananchi faction as it seeks to expand its support ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The movement is largely made up of ODM leaders who have fallen out with the party’s current leadership over its political direction and cooperation with President William Ruto’s administration.
Sifuna, Orengo, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and other leaders have positioned Linda Mwananchi as an alternative platform for Kenyans opposed to Ruto’s re-election bid.
The decision to take the movement to Homa Bay therefore puts Sifuna and his allies directly into the political backyard of leaders who support ODM’s current cooperation with Ruto.
Governor Gladys Wanga, who is also the ODM national chairperson, has openly backed the President and recently urged residents to stay away from the Linda Mwananchi rallies.
Wanga warned that a large turnout could send an unfavourable political message to Ruto and affect the region’s relationship with the government.
The two sides have since engaged in a war of words, with each camp seeking to demonstrate its influence in the county.
Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, who is aligned with the mainstream ODM camp, has also challenged Orengo to visit the county and “benchmark” its leadership.
“Orengo, welcome to Homa Bay. We don’t fight anyone here. Come, benchmark and see how a county is led,” Kaluma said.
For Linda Mwananchi, however, the rally is more than a routine political meeting.
The group wants to demonstrate that it can mobilise support in traditional ODM strongholds even after the party’s decision to work with Ruto.
The planned rally has already attracted national attention, with police approving the gathering and the government promising to provide security.
The burning of tyres at Oyugis Junction has now added another layer of tension to an event that was already shaping up as a major political test.
For now, it remains unclear whether the incident was connected to the rally.
Police are expected to establish who was behind the burning and whether the incident was intended to disrupt movement ahead of the opposition gathering.
The bigger question, however, will be whether Sifuna, Orengo and their allies can draw a significant crowd in Homa Bay and send a political message to ODM’s mainstream leadership as the 2027 contest begins to take shape.
