The Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, has assured organisers and attendees of the upcoming Linda Mwananchi rally scheduled for Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Kisumu of adequate security, while urging political leaders to adhere to the law and help maintain peace. This development comes at a time when political temperatures are rising.

Appearing before the Senate Standing Committee on National Security on Thursday, Kanja said security agencies had already identified individuals linked to the disruption of public meetings and were actively pursuing them, warning that violent tactics targeting political events would not be tolerated.

“The meeting in Kisumu, I want to ensure that the meeting will be fully secured. But I also equally request from the organisers that we follow the law,” he said.

He added that organisers also carry responsibility for ensuring order, citing constitutional provisions that require cooperation in maintaining peace.

“Look at Article 37 of our Constitution. Even the organisers have a responsibility to ensure that there is peace in that. So we work together, and everything will be okay. But from where I sit, I want to assure you that your meeting will be safe and secure. Those who want to attend are free to attend. That is the position of the National Police Service,” Kanja said.

He further took a hard line on violent disruption of political gatherings, saying the era of armed intimidation was coming to an end.

“The issues of guns and guns, honourable Chair and honourable Members, this issue of guns and guns is going to stop. It is going to stop because these goons… we have been investigating. I don’t want to say here because that is my work to do,” he said.

He noted that investigations had already mapped out networks behind such disruptions.

“We have clearly investigated. We have seen where they come from, who funds, who does what, who is the grassroots organiser and so forth. I want to assure you, Chair and honourable Members, this issue of guns and guns is going to stop. We are serious about that,” he added.

Kanja also condemned the attack on Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, terming it unacceptable and assuring that those responsible will face justice.

“What happened to Senator Osotsi was not right. I want to assure him and the people of Kenya that at the end of the day, everyone who committed an offence there will have their time to stand before a court of law," he said.

The assurances come as political temperatures rise ahead of Sunday’s Linda Mwananchi rally in Kisumu, where a breakaway faction linked to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is expected to demonstrate its influence in the region.

The rally will bring together key figures, including Siaya Governor James Orengo, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino, and Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, among others, following a preparatory meeting in Vihiga County.

Historically, Kisumu has served as a key political base where the late ODM leader Raila Odinga often retreated when communicating major political directions.

The Sunday gathering is being held against a backdrop of internal divisions within ODM, with competing factions emerging and deepening political rifts.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino maintained that the rally would go ahead despite alleged attempts to intimidate organisers.

“We will not bow to state intimidation. The Kisumu rally will proceed as planned,” he said, alleging that a senior government official had deployed DCI officers to target his bodyguard in an effort to frustrate the event.

Suba South MP Caroli Omondi also struck a defiant tone, warning against any disruption attempts.

“We will be in Kisumu on Sunday, and if anyone tries to scuttle our meeting, we are ready to face them. We are not afraid. Kisumu is Baba’s stronghold, and we must continue our journey of rescuing the country without leaving Kisumu behind,” he said.

Siaya Governor James Orengo, speaking in a radio interview, said the rally would also focus on strengthening political unity and empowerment within the region.

“Let people come to our rally in Kisumu. Those who tried to disrupt our meetings elsewhere did not succeed. I have been to Ahero, and the message I received resonates with our political stand in the region,” Orengo said.

“We need to form the government, not campaign for leaders from other parties. That is why we are working to strengthen our party."

The rally takes place amid a growing supremacy contest between the Linda Mwananchi faction and the rival Linda Ground group.

Most Kisumu County Members of Parliament are aligned with the Linda Ground faction led by ODM party leader Oburu Oginga.

However, Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has maintained a neutral position, attending some government events but avoiding open alignment with either side.

The political gathering also comes just weeks after Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, a key figure in the Linda Mwananchi camp, was attacked in Kisumu, an incident that heightened security concerns around political mobilisation in the region.

The Linda Mwananchi movement, has framed its current campaign around the dual pillars of fiscal accountability and the protection of constitutional rights. The movement argues that the current national administration has failed to adequately address the high cost of living, which has pushed the price of essential commodities beyond the reach of the average Kenyan citizen.

By continuing to hold rallies, the movement intends to keep pressure on the national government to adjust tax policies that have been described as regressive by various economic think tanks.

However, the movement faces a distinct challenge: how to maintain a peaceful, productive discourse while navigating a landscape where political intolerance is at a decade-high. Political analysts suggest that by returning to Kisumu, Osotsi is attempting to reclaim the narrative of the movement—shifting the focus from the violence of the mob to the substance of the policy debate.

The broader Kenyan economy is navigating a delicate recovery phase. With the government aiming for fiscal consolidation, the last thing investors want to see is a return to the political disruptions of the past.

Leaders within the Kisumu business fraternity have emphasized that while political expression is a constitutional right, it must be exercised within the bounds of the law to ensure that the livelihoods of ordinary citizens are not sacrificed on the altar of political expediency.

The upcoming rally will therefore be watched not just by political operatives, but by economists and trade monitors who are gauging whether the region can sustain political activity without sacrificing its economic gains.