Police in Homa Bay County have arrested 40 suspected gang members following protests that erupted in Homa Bay Town after the arrest of a man linked by investigators to previous incidents of political violence.
The suspects were arrested between Friday and Sunday during a series of day-and-night police raids targeting youths accused of looting businesses and damaging property during Thursday night’s unrest, according to Homa Bay County Police Commander Lawrence Koilem.
Citizen Digital reported on Monday that police had recovered several stolen items and crude weapons from the suspects, who were being held at Homa Bay Police Station pending their expected arraignment in court. The police operation is aimed at restoring security and normalcy in the lakeside town.
Arrest of Suspected Gang Leader Sparks Protests
The crackdown followed the arrest of Kassim Abdi Sebo at Homa Bay bus stage on Thursday night, October 8, as detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) executed a warrant issued by the Homa Bay Law Courts on August 14.
According to a police occurrence-book report cited by Citizen Digital, the warrant relates to an alleged offence of assault causing actual bodily harm, contrary to Section 251 of the Penal Code.
Officers also arrested seven men accused of obstructing the detectives during the operation. The arrest triggered protests in parts of Homa Bay Town, where groups of youths reportedly barricaded roads and lit bonfires in an attempt to pressure police to release Sebo.
The demonstrations later descended into alleged looting and destruction of property, prompting security agencies to launch an extensive operation to identify and apprehend those responsible.
Businesses Count Losses After Night of Unrest
According to police, several business premises were broken into during the Thursday night protests, with goods worth millions of shillings reportedly stolen.
The damage has raised concerns among traders and residents about the impact of violent demonstrations on livelihoods, public safety and business activity in Homa Bay Town.
The recovery of suspected stolen property and crude weapons forms part of the ongoing investigations. Police have not publicly detailed the full inventory of recovered items or provided a breakdown of the losses suffered by individual businesses.
Koilem said the operation would continue for another week, with authorities planning to extend the crackdown to other towns within the county if necessary.
Crackdown Follows Deadly Political Rally Chaos
The latest arrests also come amid continuing investigations into violence witnessed during a Linda Mwananchi faction political rally in Homa Bay on August 16, 2026.
The rally was disrupted after groups of youths reportedly blocked the convoy of visiting politicians from accessing parts of Homa Bay Town. The violence left three people dead, according to earlier reporting by Kenyans.co.ke.
In a separate update, The Standard reported that the National Police Service had arrested 37 suspects in connection with violence before, during and after the rally. Police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said officers had also recovered machetes, knives and metal rods during operations linked to the unrest. He further reported that eight police officers and several journalists were injured, while a police vehicle lost control, killing its driver and injuring five other officers.
Sebo’s arrest is among the latest developments in the wider investigation, although the allegations against him and other suspects must be determined through the judicial process.
Police Promise Continued Operations
Authorities have vowed to maintain pressure on suspected criminal gangs and individuals accused of exploiting political gatherings to cause violence, intimidate residents and destroy property.
The National Police Service has also warned that investigations will target not only those allegedly involved in violent acts but also suspected organisers, recruiters and financiers.
The latest operation places renewed focus on security in Homa Bay as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 General Election. It also raises questions about the protection of businesses, the safety of journalists and the responsibility of political actors to ensure that public gatherings remain peaceful.
For now, police say the operation will continue as investigations proceed and the suspects await court proceedings.
All those arrested remain suspects and are presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court of law.
