By KPC Reporter
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) National Treasurer Timothy Bosire has condemned a violent attack on leaders participating in the Linda Mwananchi tour in Keumbu, Kisii County, and called for swift action against those responsible.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Bosire described the incident as a threat to Kenya’s democratic freedoms and questioned the response of security agencies during the attack.
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According to Bosire, the leaders had concluded a peaceful and successful engagement with residents when their convoy was allegedly attacked by a group of organized individuals who destroyed property and endangered lives.
He noted that the Linda Mwananchi initiative has held meetings across different parts of the country without incident and argued that Kisii should not have been an exception.
“The Constitution of Kenya guarantees every citizen and every political party the freedom of expression, freedom of association, peaceful assembly and movement. These rights are not privileges granted by any individual or political office holder; they are protected constitutional freedoms that must be respected by all,” Bosire said.
The former Kitutu Masaba MP expressed concern over reports that the violence occurred in the presence of police officers, saying the circumstances surrounding the incident raise questions about the preparedness and impartiality of security agencies deployed to maintain law and order.
Bosire called on the National Police Service to provide a full and transparent account of what transpired, including details of the security arrangements that had been put in place and measures being taken to identify and prosecute those involved.
He also urged Kisii Governor Simba Arati and Nyaribari Chache MP Zaheer Jhanda to publicly address concerns that have emerged following the incident and to unequivocally condemn the violence.
“Political competition must never descend into organised violence. No Kenyan should fear attending a political meeting or expressing a political opinion because of intimidation, hired gangs or destruction of property,” Bosire said.
Warning against the normalization of political intolerance, Bosire said the events witnessed in Keumbu posed a danger to the country’s democratic gains.
“The violence witnessed in Keumbu sets a dangerous precedent that threatens our country’s democratic gains. If left unchecked, such acts risk normalising political intolerance and encouraging retaliatory violence that could undermine national cohesion and peaceful coexistence,” he added.
Bosire further appealed to leaders from the Omogusii community to reject violence and support peaceful political engagement, saying those who organized, financed or carried out the attacks must be held individually accountable through due process of the law.
