Violence Erupts as Kenyan Opposition Convoy Attacked with Stones En Route to Rally
Kakamega, 20 February 2026
Political tensions within Kenya’s opposition reached a dangerous new level on Friday when masked attackers pelted Edwin Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi convoy with stones near Kisumu. The attack occurred as the Orange Democratic Movement faction travelled to Kakamega County for a weekend rally, forcing panicked passengers to take cover as rocks shattered windows. Despite the violence, Sifuna confirmed the group would proceed with Saturday’s planned gathering, highlighting the deepening divisions within Kenya’s opposition politics and raising serious security concerns ahead of future political events.
Stone Attack Escalates Political Violence
This latest incident builds upon the violent confrontation that occurred just five days earlier, when police forcibly dispersed thousands of supporters at Edwin Sifuna’s rally in Kitengela on Sunday using teargas and reportedly firing live rounds. The Friday morning attack took place at the Kona Mbaya trading centre, where the Linda Mwananchi convoy was travelling along the Kisumu-Kakamega road when masked assailants began hurling stones at their truck [2]. Video footage shared by Senator Sifuna captured the terrifying moments as panic erupted inside the vehicle, with the turnboy shouting movement slogans just before a rock came hurtling at the truck [2]. The driver worked frantically to keep the vehicle on the road whilst passengers, including the turnboy, bent towards the truck’s floor to escape the impact before the video went dark [2].
No Casualties Despite Serious Security Breach
Despite the severity of the attack, no casualties have been reported from the stone-pelting incident that occurred just past the Riat area in Kisumu [1][2]. The convoy was part of Edwin Sifuna’s broader ‘Linda Mwananchi’ roadshow, which has been travelling across various counties as part of the opposition faction’s political mobilisation efforts [1]. The attack highlights the increasingly volatile atmosphere surrounding Kenya’s opposition politics, with this Linda Mwananchi faction including prominent figures such as Siaya Governor James Orengo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino [2]. Videos of the incident quickly circulated on social media, with Buzzroom Kenya’s Instagram post garnering over 2,400 likes and 118 comments within hours of the attack [1].
Rally Organisers Take Precautionary Measures
In response to the stone attack, Edwin Sifuna insisted that the Linda Mwananchi faction would proceed with their scheduled rally in Kakamega on Saturday, 21 February [2]. The Nairobi Senator had taken extensive precautionary measures ahead of the weekend gathering, having written to the Kakamega Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) and shared a formal notice with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen via WhatsApp [2]. Sifuna also circulated the rally notice on the Senate WhatsApp group, ensuring that Murkomen, as a former senator still in the group, could not later claim ignorance of the event [2]. This proactive approach came after CS Murkomen claimed he had not been notified of the previous Kitengela rally that was disrupted by police, resulting in two deaths and fifty injuries [2].
Opposition Faction Deepens Amid Security Concerns
The stone attack occurs against the backdrop of a significant split within Kenya’s Orange Democratic Movement, with competing factions of ‘Linda Ground’ and ‘Linda Mwananchi’ vying for political legitimacy [3]. This internal division has created a complex political landscape where opposition groups are not only facing government pressure but also confronting violence from rival political elements. The escalation follows a pattern of intimidation tactics that have reportedly increased in areas where the Linda Mwananchi movement is active [GPT based on context]. Meanwhile, the broader United Opposition coalition had planned to visit Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja’s office on Thursday, 20 February, but the visit was cancelled as members opted instead to pursue legal action against the police chief due to his alleged reluctance to take action against officers involved in previous incidents [2].