A group of youths wearing outfits associated with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) attacked and looted a tourist hotel in Homa Bay on Saturday evening.
The incident occurred at about 8pm on August 15, 2026, at a hotel located in the Homa Bay Pier Lake area.
Police said the hotel manager reported that the youths invaded the premises and vandalised property before stealing various items.
Police officers rushed to the hotel following the report.
Police were criticized for doing little to address the menace.
This came ahead of a planned rally in the area by Linda Mwananchi group.
However, the youths had already left the premises on motorcycles by the time the police officers arrived.
Police gained access to the hotel and found that stationeries, accessories and furniture had been destroyed and stolen.
The value of the damaged and stolen property had not been established at the time of reporting.
Police have launched investigations to identify the suspects and recover the stolen property.
There was no recovery made by Sunday morning. Police said no arrest had been made.
The motive behind the attack was linked to the rally in the area.
This came as tension rose in Homa Bay Town ahead of a planned rally on Sunday.
Hired goons blocked major routes in the town using boulders and twigs negatively affecting traffic flow.
Groups kept moving from one place to the other as early as 6 am on Sunday with no police on sight.
There were fears of chaos ahead of the rally planned in the area y Linda Mwananchi brigade. Police said they were investigating the developments.
Some hotels reported being attacked and property vandalized by goons.
A local politician was seen inciting violence and directing a group to attack anyone singing the Tutam slogan.
This came despite assurances by Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo who comes from the area that the rally will be peaceful. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen also assured of security.
Police sources said there were instructions from elsewhere to the contrary hence the chaos witnessed.
The Linda Mwananchi leaders had landed the town ahead of the rally amid tension.
There have been calls for peaceful rallies in different parts of the country ahead of the 2027 polls.
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