Siaya Governor James Orengo has raised alarm over what he describes as a violent and targeted attack on one of his supporters, warning of a growing climate of intimidation and lawlessness in the country.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 14, Orengo said he was left shaken after speaking with Kevin Dooso, a supporter who was allegedly attacked at his home by armed assailants.
According to the governor, the attackers were accompanied by individuals believed to be police officers.
“Last night, my heart broke speaking with my dedicated supporter, Kevin Dooso,” Orengo said.
“Armed goons, accompanied by men believed to be police officers broke into his home, took away his phones and laptop, and brutally hacked him with a panga, leaving him for dead.”
The governor claimed that Dooso’s only wrongdoing was his political stance and willingness to openly support calls for change.
He described the incident as part of a broader pattern of intimidation targeting individuals perceived to be aligned with opposition voices.
Orengo warned that such incidents signal a dangerous shift, drawing parallels with historical breakdowns in law and order elsewhere.
“When speaking up for change puts a target on your back in your own home, we are sliding into dangerous lawlessness,” he said.
The county boss termed the attack not just a personal assault, but an affront to democratic freedoms, arguing that it undermines the right to free expression and political participation.
“This is an attack on all of us who dream of a better future,” he added.
By Tuesday afternoon, there had been no official statement from the National Police Service regarding the alleged involvement of officers or confirmation of the incident.
Efforts to establish Dooso’s condition and whether any arrests had been made were ongoing.
The incident is likely to heighten political tensions, particularly amid growing concerns over security and the safety of political activists across the country.
Orengo called on Kenyans to stand in solidarity with the victim, urging the public to keep him in their prayers as he fights for his life.
“We cannot, and will not, let this brutal attempt to silence us succeed,” he said.