KISUMU, August 12, 2026-Siaya Governor James Orengo has assured Linda Mwananchi supporters that plans are at an advanced stage to hold a peaceful and unarmed rally in Homa Bay County on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
His remarks come amid heightened tension in the region, marked by exchanges of political barbs between local leaders and movement luminaries.
Speaking during a press conference in Kisumu on Wednesday evening, the Linda Mwananchi party leader said the mega rally will be graced by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, and Caroli Omondi, among others.
According to Orengo, he is the main target of planned political violence that is “organized and fully funded by the state through our very own elected leaders and politicians from Homa Bay.”
He questioned why leaders who have publicly called for his death have not been arrested.
“Why are they still walking scot-free?” he posed.
The governor emphasized that the 2010 Constitution guarantees Kenyans freedoms of movement, assembly under Article 37, expression under Article 33, association under Article 36, and the right to picket peacefully with adequate security from law enforcers.
“We have already notified Homa Bay police of our intention to hold the rally, and we expect them to maintain law and order. Our rally will proceed as planned. I ask area residents to turn out in large numbers and engage on how we can fix this country ahead of the 2027 General Election,” he said. He was accompanied by Brian Weke and other movement members.
Citing “intelligence-led reports,” Orengo alleged that meetings have been held in hotels and public places to “arm some youths to foil” the rally.
“Whereas we are keen on holding a peaceful rally to articulate issues of national interest, some local leaders are still living in the past and in backwardness,” he said.
He added that some members have already been arrested and intimidated.
“We have held peaceful and successful rallies even in UDA strongholds. Why are Homa Bay leaders keen on sending a wrong signal that the region is only a tutam zone?” he asked.
In typical Orengo fashion, he reminded detractors of his long history of activism-in the trenches.
“When I remove my clothes you will see several marks of rungus, pangas and arrows. These were inflicted during our agitation for multiparty democracy. They will not disrupt our rally,” he said.
Acknowledging that in the last four months they have focused on highlighting ills in the Kenya Kwanza administration, Orengo said they will also tell Kenyans what citizen-centric issues they will address better when they assume power in 2027.
A similar press conference was held in Nairobi, where principals Babu Owino and Edwin Sifuna affirmed their resolve to exercise constitutional rights peacefully.
“We expect the same constitutional space to be protected for every Kenyan. No individual, group or organized goon squad should be allowed to take away the constitutional rights of Kenyans to converge, express themselves, engage with their leaders and participate in the political process. We remain steadfast. We remain peaceful. We remain committed to engaging the people,” they said.
On his part, Brian Weke dismissed claims that the Luo community has been left out of the opposition’s national lineup.
“We are rightly placed on the national table led by our party leader James Orengo and we will have a candidate too,” he stated.
