Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-Kenya) leader Eugene Wamalwa has condemned the government over what he described as deliberate attempts by police and hired goons to block opposition leaders from accessing public rallies.

Taking to his official X account on Monday, February 9, 2026, Wamalwa warned that the trend poses a serious threat to Kenya’s democracy.

The former Defence Cabinet Secretary cited the failed attempts to block former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his allies from reaching Kinamba in Naivasha, as well as efforts to stop an ODM faction led by Siaya Governor James Orengo and party Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna from entering Busia County.

Intimidation of political opponents

According to Wamalwa, the incidents confirmed what he termed the rise of a “Goonvernment”, an alleged unholy alliance between the state and violent groups used to intimidate political opponents of the ruling establishment.

“The Goonvernment phenomenon, born out of the unholy alliance between this government and goons and the use of violence as a political tool against opponents of the #TUTAM system, is an existential threat to our democracy! We have, with my opposition colleagues @skmusyoka, @rigathi, @MarthaKarua, @RealMatiangi, and @HonJBMuturiamong others, called upon @IEBCKenya and @IG_NPS to act on this threat, apart from other threats that undermine our democracy, like corruption, voter bribery, and the use of discredited Venezuelan Smartmatic technology to rig elections, but in vain,” Wamalwa stated.

“The failed attempted blocking by police and goons of our #WANTAM team led by @rigathi from reaching Kinamba in Naivasha and @orengo_james, and @edwinsifuna led faction of @TheODMparty from entering Busia yesterday confirms the growing desperation of the Goonverment.”

Wamalwa went ahead to assure Kenyans that the United Opposition will not relent in its mandate, noting that they will continue demanding action and holding to account those failing in their constitutional mandates.

“We will continue demanding action and holding to account those failing in their constitutional mandates to protect all Kenyans and ensure their enjoyment of their constitutional rights and freedoms of expression, worship, movement, assembly, and association,” he stated.

He also noted that Kenyans should be free to move to any part of the country and freely sell their policies, whether they align with the government or not.

Sifuna and Gachagua blocked

The Linda Mwananchi faction, led by embattled Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, was shortly disrupted in Ugunja, Siaya County, while en route to Busia for a function on Sunday, February 8, 2026.

A section of the crowd booed the Sifuna-led team as they stopped to acknowledge greetings from Ugunja locals while heading to Busia.

In a separate incident, Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua and other opposition leaders, including Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Fred Matiang’i, cheated police roadblocks as they tried to reach Kinamba in Naivasha, where they addressed locals after attending a church service in Njabini, Nyandarua County.