Kisumu County Commissioner condemns politicians for mobilising youth as goons after church violence
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, July 13, 2026Kisumu County Commissioner Ramadhan Mwabudzo has condemned political leaders for mobilising young people to engage in violence, saying many of those recruited did not even understand the purpose of the assignments they were given.
Speaking in a press release on Monday, July 13, 2026, after the violent incident at a church in Kisumu on Sunday, July 12, 2026, Mwabudzo said that intelligence reports indicated that groups of youth were assembled at Victoria Park, where they were allegedly issued with new pangas and jembe handles before being deployed. He noted that many of those mobilised were innocent boda boda riders lured by promises of payment without fully understanding the mission.
“Most of the youth who were mobilised yesterday did not even know exactly why they were being mobilised. They were assembled at Victoria Park just to be issued with new pangas and jembe handles and directed to act,” he said.
The county commissioner urged young people to reject being used by politicians to settle political scores, warning that money should not be used to entice them into acts of violence.
“I think, collectively, let us discourage the youth from undertaking such assignments. We have educated and learned youth… The leaders who are doing that – shame on you. And you will be cursed. It is wrong to use the youth of this town to settle scores,” he added.
Mwabudzo further revealed that security agencies received credible intelligence early enough to deploy officers to the church, preventing what he described as a potentially more serious incident. According to him, the mobilisation reportedly began at around 9 a.m., with the youth ready by about 11 a.m., by which time police officers had already been stationed at the venue.
The commissioner said authorities had initially believed the gathering would be an ordinary church service but later discovered it involved a fundraising event, with rival groups also arriving, accompanied by people purportedly providing security.
The County Commissioner appealed to political leaders planning visits to Kisumu to notify security agencies in advance, assuring them that the government is prepared to provide adequate protection at all public events, including church functions.
“Wherever a leader is coming to Kisumu, let us be informed. We shall provide the security. Even if it’s in a church, we’ll provide that security. You don’t need to hire goons. We are ready to provide security for you,” he said.
Linda Mwananchi blames govt for violence
The statement from the commissioner comes hours after Siaya Governor James Orengo and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna pointed fingers at the state for orchestrating Sunday’s violence at St Stephen’s Cathedral in Kisumu, where members of the Linda Mwananchi movement were confronted by armed youths while attending a church service.
Speaking after the incident on Sunday, July 12, 2026, Orengo claimed the attack was organised and backed by state actors, saying that there was evidence linking senior government officials and local leaders to the violence.
“We have evidence that what happened in Kisumu today was organised. The violence and the audacity with which it was carried out have the hand of the state in it,” Orengo said.