Suba North MP Millie Mabona has condemned the violence that erupted during the Linda Mwananchi rallies in Homa Bay, expressing outrage over the reported attack on Najma, a Kwale Woman Representative aspirant who was among women targeted during the political gatherings.
Mabona said she personally met Najma and another female victim on Monday as they travelled to Mombasa after receiving treatment in Kisumu.
According to the legislator, Najma was in a wheelchair and remained in severe pain from injuries sustained during the violence.
“My first tribe is Woman. I watched this woman speak in the Linda Mwananchi Forum in Sindo. She said she is an aspiring Woman Representative in a Coastal County, I think Kwale.”
Mabona said Najma gave her a disturbing account of what happened after she was attacked.
She claimed that while blood was reportedly flowing heavily from Najma's head, a young man who had participated in the earlier assault allegedly raised a panga and appeared ready to kill her.
“As blood was oozing from her head uncontrollably, a ‘young man’ who was part of the earlier beatings, raised his panga to finish her off when a woman who was nearby and knew him by name pleaded with him.”
According to Mabona, the woman appealed to the alleged attacker to spare Najma, arguing that there was no justification for killing an injured and defenceless woman.
“The young man apologized and said he only does that because he is jobless and they were given money and instructed to kill ‘Wantam’ proponents.”
Mabona said the man's actions later changed after the intervention, claiming that he hid Najma in a toilet, helped her obtain first aid and assisted in securing an ambulance to take her to hospital.
“His sense of humanity returned. He then hid her in a toilet. Got her first aid, and eventually got an Ambulance to ferry them to hospital.”
The legislator further claimed that another young man was provided to protect Najma as she awaited medical assistance.
Mabona said Najma was not the only woman targeted during the violence, alleging that several women who participated in the Linda Mwananchi meetings were specifically attacked.
“This lady and Hon Perpetua and other women who spoke were specifically targeted.”
She also alleged that one woman lost her security during the disturbances and claimed that some women were sexually assaulted. The allegations of sexual violence have not been independently verified.
“One lost her security. Some women were reportedly raped.”
Mabona said the accounts she received from the victims had left her deeply distressed and angry, particularly as a senior female political leader.
“As a senior woman leader, all I can say now is I am shaking in rage. I did not sleep. I am shaking in rage.”
The allegations come amid wider investigations into Sunday's violence in Homa Bay, which left people dead and dozens injured. Police have arrested suspects in connection with the disturbances as investigators continue to establish what happened and identify those responsible.
Mabona's account has also placed renewed attention on the safety of women participating in Kenya's increasingly competitive political activities, particularly during campaign rallies and public meetings.