One killed, another injured as violence mars Linda Mwananchi rally in Vihiga
By Enock Amukhale, February 21, 2026A middle-aged man suspected of being one of the goons hired to disrupt a Linda Mwananchi rally in Vihiga County was lynched by a mob, while another suspect was seriously injured.
The incident occurred on Saturday, February 21, 2026, in Mbale Town, where members of the public had gathered ahead of a rally led by embattled ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.
The man was cornered by a charged crowd before the rally began, with the mob descending on him using stones and killing him on the spot.
Another suspected goon was also cornered at the same venue, with crude weapons, including a knife and a machete, recovered from him.
The suspect was found in possession of a badge indicating he was affiliated with a Kisumu County boda boda security group.
“We have a middle-aged man who was lynched by a mob and the other seriously injured. They are suspected to be goons from Kisumu County hired to come and disrupt the Linda Mwananchi rally. Crude weapons including a knife and machete were recovered from the lynched suspect,” some members of the charged crowd at the rally said.
Earlier, tension had been reported ahead of the rally after two rival factions, one supporting William Ruto to serve two terms and another pushing for him to serve one term, clashed in Mbale Town.
Supporters of the two-term campaign were seen fueling their boda boda motorcycles at petrol stations while dressed in reflective jackets branded “Two Term.”
After fueling, the group rode towards Mbale Town, accompanied by a lorry mounted with a loud music system, heading to the venue where Sifuna and his team were scheduled to address supporters.
They were, however, repulsed by the Linda Mwananchi supporters and forced to flee for safety.
Despite the chaos, Sifuna and his team later arrived in Mbale Town and addressed a large crowd of supporters, vowing not to relent in their push for President Ruto to serve only one term.
Sifuna said they would not succumb to intimidation from the UDA government and urged supporters to recognise the Linda Mwananchi team as the original Orange Democratic Movement, while dismissing the Oburu Odinga-led faction as illegitimate.
“We will not relent in our push for Ruto to serve one term. We shall also continue to fight for Kenyans the way the late Raila did,” Sifuna said.
He added that ODM has the capacity to field a winning presidential candidate in the 2027 General Election if the party rallies behind one individual.
“Si Babu Owino anaweza kuwa rais, si Orengo anaweza kuwa rais, si Sifuna anaweza kuwa rais, si hata Osotsi anaweza kuwa rais,” Sifuna posed.
Sifuna also called on President Ruto to implement the 20-point agenda that had been agreed upon between him and the late Raila Odinga.
ODM Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi, who hosted the rally, said the party would continue holding more Linda Mwananchi rallies across the country to consolidate its support base.
“We shall hold more mega rallies across the country, including here in Vihiga, to consolidate our ground,” Osotsi said.
Osotsi further said it was shameful that the Western region continues to suffer from poor development, poverty and collapsing industries despite leaders such as Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula holding key positions in government.