There was tension in Kisumu after a group of armed individuals allegedly attempted to force their way into a church service at St. Stephen's ACK Cathedral, where Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Siaya Governor James Orengo were attending.
Videos obtained by Vantage Ke showed dozens of youths carrying crude weapons, including machetes and arrows, advancing towards the church as police officers, who appeared to be heavily outnumbered, looked on.
A confrontation later developed at the cathedral's main gate after some of the suspected attackers reportedly demanded to be allowed into the church compound.
Governor Orengo later confirmed the incident, accusing security agencies of working alongside the armed group.
"They came with the police, but the people protected us. We are LINDA MWANAINCHI!" Orengo wrote on his social media accounts.
By the time of publication, at least one person had reportedly sustained serious injuries during the confrontation after police fired teargas in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
Motorcycles believed to have been used to transport the suspected attackers were also set ablaze as supporters of the Linda Mwananchi movement clashed with the group.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino also reacted to the incident, claiming those behind the alleged attack had faced retaliation.
"Goon-lets who were sent to attack Orengo and Sifuna have learnt their lessons the hard way. This is the consequence of their actions. Their motorbikes have been burnt to ashes.
"We will continue defending ourselves if the police can’t defend us. The consequences are better imagined than experienced," Owino wrote.
Police had not issued an official statement on the incident by the time of publication.
The latest confrontation is likely to intensify concerns over rising political violence as Kenya moves closer to the 2027 General Election.
The Ministry of Interior has repeatedly warned against political intolerance, pledging to take action against individuals found organising or participating in politically motivated attacks while maintaining that security will be upheld ahead of the polls.
Despite those assurances, such incidents have continued to emerge, with videos from recent confrontations appearing to show suspected perpetrators leaving the scenes without immediate arrests.
The Kisumu incident came just a day after the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) campaign truck was attacked, vandalised and set on fire in Ol-Kalou by masked men. Police are yet to issue a statement on that attack or announce any arrests.
