The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
The death toll from the chaos that erupted during Linda Mwananchi rallies in Homa Bay has climbed to four, after the body of a man was discovered in the Oyugis area bearing stab wounds.
The unidentified body was found beside a roadside fence in Kojier Village, Kanyango Sub-location, Kowidi Location, in Rachuonyo South. Police said the body, believed to belong to a man around 30 years old, was discovered on Monday, August 17.
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Officers from Oyugis Police Station visited the scene, where preliminary examination revealed a deep cut beneath the deceased’s chin, raising suspicion that he may have been killed elsewhere before his body was dumped at the location, or killed at the scene itself. By Tuesday, the man remained unidentified, with detectives working to establish his identity, determine the circumstances of his death, and track down those responsible. His body was taken to Rachuonyo Sub-County Hospital mortuary pending a post-mortem examination.
This latest death comes as residents continue counting losses from violence that erupted after hired goons allegedly attacked participants at the Linda Mwananchi rallies. The movement has accused security officers and alleged state operatives of coordinating a violent assault against its leaders and supporters during its tour of Homa Bay County on Sunday.
Movement leaders described the incident as a deliberate, planned operation rather than a spontaneous outbreak of political violence, alleging that some police officers collaborated with armed groups to disrupt their convoy. In a statement issued Monday, the group’s chair, Edwin Sifuna, said what they experienced was not a breakdown of law and order but a calculated operation.
According to the movement, its convoy faced repeated roadblocks and barricades from the Kisumu-Homa Bay border and along routes toward Migori and Kisii, restricting its supporters’ movement during the political tour of the ODM stronghold. Sifuna further alleged that armed individuals hiding in bushes along the route opened fire on the convoy, describing the incident as an ambush rather than mere crowd chaos.
The movement also claimed that following the violence, its phone received repeated calls from individuals identifying themselves as senior police officers demanding its return.
According to the group, at least 18 people were initially treated for injuries, with 12 evacuated to Kisumu for specialized care. Two patients underwent surgery, and one had a leg amputated. Two people ultimately succumbed to their injuries — a police officer and a woman.
Police identified the deceased officer as Police Constable and driver Jimrichardson Onkundi, who was returning from Homa Bay on Sunday night when he was struck by a stone on the right side of his head near the ear. He was attached to the Nyando Sub-County command. The impact caused the government-owned Toyota D-Max he was driving to veer off the road and crash into a house. Onkundi was initially taken to Jeneiro Hospital in Nyangeswo before being referred to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu, where he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on Monday. His body was moved to Othoo Funeral Home, pending a postmortem examination. His supervisor was also seriously injured during the chaos.
Despite the violence, the Linda Mwananchi movement praised police officers in Nyandiwa and Sindo who it said refused to take part in efforts to disrupt its rallies, and commended medical workers in Homa Bay and Kisumu for treating the injured without discrimination. The movement has called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, and the NIS Director-General to investigate the alleged conduct of their officers, vowing to pursue accountability through the courts and other lawful institutions. The group insisted the violence would not derail its political campaign, stating that instead of breaking its resolve, the attack had only strengthened it.
Of the 46 people injured overall, seven were reported to be in critical condition, while four sustained gunshot wounds during attacks on Linda Mwananchi team members as they made their way into Homa Bay Town from Sindo in Suba South. Most victims suffered deep panga cuts across various parts of their bodies. The injured were initially taken to Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital for first aid before being transferred to private facilities in the region for further treatment, amid an ongoing nurses’ strike.
The violence also left a trail of destruction, with at least six vehicles torched after armed youths barricaded the Homa Bay-Mbita road from Lala to Junction Kodoyo, apparently in an attempt to block the Linda Mwananchi team from reaching Homa Bay Town. Among the vehicles set ablaze was one belonging to Mediamax Network Limited, targeted as journalists covering the rally came under attack. A public address vehicle belonging to Bungoma Governor George Natembeya was also torched.
K24 journalists Francis Mwangi and Evans Okeyo were among those attacked at around 7 pm, with several pieces of media equipment vandalized or stolen. Mwangi sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital. The torched vehicles were later towed to Homa Bay Police Station as investigations continued.
The violence also extended to religious premises, with armed youths invading the headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Lake Victoria Field in Lala village along the Homa Bay-Mbita road, damaging buildings and vehicles parked within the compound.
