A hotel in Homa Bay Town is counting losses after armed youths stormed the facility twice over the weekend, smashed windows, destroyed property and allegedly stole items while searching for members and supporters of the Linda Mwananchi Movement.

According to a police report filed by hotel manager Robert Odongo, up to 50 youths invaded Homa Bay Tourist Hotel on Saturday.

Odongo told police the attackers, armed with crude weapons, moved from room to room looking for Linda Mwananchi members who had arrived in Homa Bay ahead of a planned rally on Sunday.

Guests and workers were chased out of rooms as the youths broke glass doors and destroyed CCTV cameras, apparently in an attempt to remove evidence of their entry.

Police confirmed the vandalism and theft of hotel property. Officers said the attackers had fled on motorbikes by the time they arrived at the scene. The manager said the attack left both guests and staff traumatised and that the hotel was still assessing the full extent of the damage.

“The goons were armed with crude weapons. They claimed they were looking for members of the Linda Mwananchi team who were allegedly within the hotel,” Odongo said in his statement.

The incidents came moments after a video surfaced online showing a politician believed to be Homa Bay Town MP Opondo Kaluma addressing a group of suspected supporters. In the clip, Kaluma is heard urging them to ransack hotels and flush out Linda Mwananchi members.

“I am ordering that from this moment, let’s go out and conduct a door to door search in all places of accommodation and get them out. I am also warning hotel owners here in Homa Bay Town to be careful of who they are hosting tonight. We shall cross with that guest and, if need be, even the hotel,” he said in the viral video.

In another video shared widely online, Kaluma told a crowd that some of their political opponents were already in Homa Bay despite claims they would arrive on Sunday.

“Some people are saying they will come tomorrow. That is not true. They are already here,” he said.

According to the legislator, political rivals had infiltrated Orange Democratic Movement circles in the county.

“I met you last time and realised that there are people who are ready to join them. Some were noting down names of people who will join the team,” Kaluma said.

He warned that Homa Bay Town would not tolerate anyone opposed to the re-election of President William Ruto.

“As from today, we are declaring that anyone saying ‘One Term’, we shall ‘cross with him’. If you know that you are a Gachagua sympathiser, please disappear,” he warned.

Kaluma further told the crowd he had provided funds to cater for fuel to ferry people to different hotels in search of their political competitors. “I have already sorted out your leaders. Your fuel for today has been catered for,” he said.

He also cautioned the Linda Mwananchi team against bringing what he called ‘useless wantam’ slogans to Homa Bay County, saying the projects they would use in the county had been built by President William Ruto.

“When you come to Homa Bay, please remember the airstrip, the piers and the roads you land, anchor and drive on as you shout your useless ‘wantam’ political slogans have been built by President William Ruto. Your Gachagua and Uhuru built nothing here and never cared to know we exist,” Kaluma warned.

Tension remained high in Homa Bay on Sunday. Witnesses said armed goons were seen blocking roads and intimidating residents in parts of the town. Police said they had deployed additional officers to restore order and were investigating the attacks at the hotel as well as the content of the videos linked to the incident.

Hotel management said they were cooperating with investigators and had called for increased security for businesses ahead of political events in the county. Human rights groups in the region condemned the attacks and called on political leaders to desist from incitement and to allow freedom of association and assembly.