Police Kill Garage Worker During Opposition Rally in Kitengela
Kitengela, 16 February 2026
Vincent Ayomo, a 28-year-old garage worker, was fatally shot in the face by police during a chaotic opposition rally in Kitengela on Sunday. The young father was simply running work-related errands when he became caught in violent clashes between security forces and supporters attending Senator Edwin Sifuna’s ‘Linda Mwananchi’ rally. Police used teargas and live ammunition to disperse crowds, with opposition leaders claiming two deaths and fifty injuries overall. Ayomo’s widow discovered his body at the city mortuary after being informed by his work colleague. The incident has intensified tensions between Kenya’s opposition movement and security forces, with Sifuna condemning what he termed ‘state-sponsored repression’ and demanding accountability for the killing of an innocent citizen exercising constitutional rights.
Tragic Details of Sunday’s Fatal Shooting
The violence that claimed Vincent Ayomo’s life on Sunday, 15 February 2026, unfolded as an escalation of previous tensions reported at the same rally, where police had initially used teargas to disperse thousands of Sifuna supporters. Ayomo was heading to collect spare parts for work at a garage on Old Namanga Road when he was shot in the face, with the bullet hitting him below his left eye at approximately 18:00 hours [1]. His widow, Khadija Riyami, told journalists she was at home around midday when her husband’s work colleague called to inform her that Ayomo had been shot whilst crossing the road from work [2]. The bullet tragically exited through the back of his head, and Riyami later found his body at the city mortuary [3][4].
Opposition Claims Broader Violence
The United Opposition has alleged that Ayomo’s death was not an isolated incident, claiming two people were killed and fifty others injured during the chaotic scenes in Kitengela [4]. The violence erupted as police deployed teargas canisters and fired live rounds to disperse the crowd attending Sifuna’s ‘Linda Mwananchi’ (Protect Citizens) rally [1][2]. The dramatic police intervention caused transport to be paralysed along the Nairobi-Namanga Road, with shops in Kitengela closing due to the unrest [2]. Witnesses reported that state-hired goons had also vandalised the public address system before the violence escalated [3].
Sifuna Condemns ‘State-Sponsored Repression’
Senator Edwin Sifuna released a statement on Monday, 16 February 2026, expressing his condolences to Ayomo’s family and condemning what he termed state-sponsored violence against peaceful citizens [3][4]. ‘We express our deepest condolences and sympathies to the family and friends of Vincent Ayoma. He tragically lost his life in the fight for a better Kenya at the hands of those who are duty-bound to protect him,’ Sifuna stated [3]. The Nairobi Senator directly blamed President William Ruto and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen for the violence, questioning why the administration had chosen to ‘unleash state violence on Kenyans instead of addressing the many challenges facing them’ [3]. Sifuna vowed to pursue justice for Ayomo’s family and ensure accountability for those responsible for his death [3].
Political Context and Broader Opposition Response
The fatal shooting occurred during a period of heightened political tensions, with Sifuna recently reinstated as ODM Secretary-General by the Political Parties Tribunal after being dismissed [2]. The rally was part of his ‘Linda Mwananchi’ tour, which had begun with a church service at ACK St. Peter’s Orkeju Emanya Church in Kisaju, Kajiado County, before proceeding to Kitengela where some supporters had been waiting since 06:30 hours [2]. Other prominent opposition leaders, including Siaya Senator James Orengo, had also addressed the gathering before the violence erupted [2]. Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka condemned the police actions, stating that the victims were ‘unarmed citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble’ and describing the incident as ‘state-sponsored repression’ rather than legitimate policing [4]. The tragedy has left behind a grieving family, with Ayomo survived by his 24-year-old wife and one daughter [4].