Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has raised alarm over what she termed a “deliberate and sustained effort” to suppress political dissent through orchestrated violence, following a chaotic incident at a church service that left one person dead and several others injured.
Speaking on Monday alongside women leaders from civil society, Odinga linked Sunday’s disruption at St Stephen’s ACK Cathedral in Kisumu to a broader pattern of politically motivated attacks disguised as “goonism.”
The incident occurred during a Kenya Anglican Men’s Association event attended by Siaya Governor James Orengo and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
“Yesterday, our nation watched in horror as goons attempted to storm a church service… armed with bows, arrows, machetes and stones,” Odinga said.
“This is no longer isolated insecurity. It is an organized system aimed at silencing alternative political voices.”
According to Odinga, the attackers moved through the city unchecked, passing near the Nyanza Regional Police Headquarters without intervention before chaos erupted. Motorbikes were torched during the confrontation, while worshippers and residents fled for safety.
She accused unnamed political actors of financing and protecting criminal gangs to intimidate opponents and restrict democratic space ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“We cannot be convinced that these machete-wielding thugs operate without assurance of protection,” she stated.
“This is coordinated criminal activity disguised as freedom of expression.”
The legislator warned that the growing trend of violence was spilling beyond politics into economic and social life, with businesses increasingly fearful of operating in volatile areas.
She noted reports of extortion targeting political leaders and traders, saying the situation reflects deepening impunity.
Odinga drew comparisons with past election cycles, recalling that even at the height of political competition, leaders from across divides — including former Presidents Daniel arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta — campaigned freely in the region without violence.
“Never have we witnessed the level of political intolerance that we are seeing today,” she said. “Kenya is greater than any individual, and no ambition should divide us beyond repair.”
She also criticized what she described as a failure by security agencies to act decisively despite repeated incidents.
“When a pattern repeats itself county after county and no preventive action is taken, that is a deliberate abdication of duty,” she said.
Her remarks come despite recent measures announced by Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o and the County Commissioner aimed at curbing violence, including regulating political gatherings, strengthening community policing and expanding surveillance.
“Barely two weeks after those resolutions, goons stormed a cathedral in broad daylight,” Odinga noted, questioning enforcement of the directives.
In a direct appeal to young men allegedly recruited into such groups, she cautioned against being used for political ends.
“Those who send you will not visit you in remand or care for your families,” she said.
Odinga concluded by reaffirming her commitment to defending democratic space, invoking the legacy of opposition leader Raila Odinga and warning that unchecked political violence could have far-reaching consequences as the country approaches the 2027 elections.