CS Murkomen: Police Were Not Notified of Sifuna-Led Kitengela Rally

A crowd attending the Edwin Sifuna- led rally at Kitengela

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said police were not informed about the political rally in Kitengela led by Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.

The rally, held on Sunday, February 15, 2026, drew thousands of supporters and was attended by Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Siaya Governor James Orengo, and ODM Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi, among other leaders aligned to a rival ODM faction.

Chaos erupted during the event after police lobbed teargas and reportedly fired shots to disperse the crowd. Following the incident, Sifuna confirmed that one person was fatally shot.

Speaking during a Huduma na Usalama mashinani forum in Nakuru County on Wednesday, Murkomen claimed authorities had not been briefed about the rally. He added that the event was held on a market day, leaving many unsuspecting residents caught up in the unrest.

The Interior CS further alleged that individuals described as goons had been ferried from Machakos and Nairobi to attend the gathering.

Murkomen’s remarks come as the Sifuna-led faction prepares to tour Kakamega County under the ‘Linda Mwananchi’ banner, a move seen by observers as a test of the group’s political strength.

In response to the Kitengela violence, Sifuna blamed President William Ruto and Murkomen, accusing them of deploying police officers and hiring goons to disrupt the meeting.

“They do not respect the rights of Kenyans and are intolerant of democratic competition. They have chosen to unleash state violence on Kenyans instead of addressing the many challenges facing them,” Sifuna said.

“They wrongly believe that the use of state violence will deter Kenyans from exercising their political rights. To the contrary, Kenyans will not surrender and live on their knees. Instead, they will defend their rights and use their votes to effect change through the ballot,” he added.

Sifuna vowed to pursue legal action and ensure those responsible for the chaos are held accountable.