Siaya Governor James Orengo has vowed to hold a political rally in Homa Bay on Sunday, despite claims that plans are under way to disrupt the event.
Orengo, who leads the Linda Mwananchi political movement, said the group would hold the rally on 16 August as planned.
He said the movement’s officials, including Brian Weke, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Caroli Omondi would attend.
He also indicated that he was positioning himself for a possible presidential bid in the 2027 elections, saying the right of members of the Luo community to seek the presidency could not be compromised.
“No-one is going to sell the birthright of the Luo community,” he said.
The governor said Kenya’s Constitution guaranteed freedom of movement, association and expression, as well as the right to peaceful and unarmed assembly.
He accused some Homa Bay leaders of trying to prevent the movement from holding a rally in the county.
“I am deeply shocked that Kenya is again going through that phase in a democratic struggle where leaders from a certain area can say we cannot go to Homa Bay,” he said.
Orengo, a veteran of Kenya’s pro-democracy movement, compared the situation to political restrictions experienced during the struggle for multiparty democracy.
He recalled being attacked with bows and arrows while travelling in the Rift Valley during the political struggles of the past.He said he was prepared to face similar risks in defence of democracy.
“If the last act that I can do for this country in the name of change and patriotism, in the name of democracy, is for me to die for my country, I am prepared,” he said.
Orengo alleged that weapons had been distributed at meetings in Homa Bay in preparation for the rally.
He mentioned pangas, clubs and bows and arrows.He did not provide evidence for the claims, but said the movement would report the alleged plans to police.
Weke said Linda Mwananchi had formally notified police of its intention to hold the rally and urged officers to protect those attending.
He alleged that some supporters had previously been arrested and later released following intervention from senior officials.
He also claimed that properties belonging to some supporters had been targeted.
“We are coming in peace, and we are asking the police to do their work. But I can assure you, if you want to mete violence on us, we are prepared to protect ourselves,” he said.
Orengo called on Homa Bay residents to attend the event peacefully, saying the rally was no longer simply about Linda Mwananchi but about defending democratic freedoms.
He cited previous political campaigns in which leaders from outside the region had been allowed to campaign in Homa Bay without violence.
Orengo also said Linda Mwananchi, which he described as a relatively new political movement, was preparing to transform itself into a political party.
He said the party would field candidates at all levels in the 2027 elections.
The governor acknowledged that the movement had so far focused heavily on criticising what it considers failures of the government and said it would soon publish more details of its proposed policies.
“Many Kenyans know what is wrong with Kenya. How to fix it is the problem. We have the solution, we have the answer.
The Homa Bay rally comes amid growing political realignment ahead of the 2027 general election, with Orengo increasingly presenting himself as a national opposition figure.
He also criticised attempts to present another politician as the sole representative of the Luo community in discussions about the country’s political future.
Orengo said the community should retain the right to consider multiple presidential candidates.
He urged supporters to remain peaceful while insisting that the Homa Bay rally would go ahead as planned.
“We will be in Homa Bay. No force on earth is going to stop us,” he said.
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