The National Police Service has arrested 37 suspected gang members following violence during the Linda Mwananchi rally in Homa Bay on Sunday, with police saying the suspects were found in possession of crude weapons.
The arrests followed clashes and incidents of criminality reported during the political rally on 16 August, which left a police officer dead and several others injured.
According to the NPS, the suspects were found with machetes, ropes, metal rods, knives, rungus, batons and torches.
“The suspects will be processed accordingly and must face the full force of the law,” the police said in a statement issued on Monday.
The service said several criminal incidents were recorded during the rally, including an attack on journalists carrying out their lawful duties and damage to five police vehicles deployed for public order operations.
Several civilian vehicles were also damaged, while a police vehicle lost control, killing its driver and injuring five other officers.
The NPS said three other officers had been injured on August 15 while arresting 15 suspected gang members along the Kisumu-Kericho Road.
“This brings the total number of injured officers in the Kisumu and Homa Bay incidents to eight, in addition to the officer who sustained fatal injuries in Homa Bay,” the statement said.
Police said they were pursuing Oliver Jaoko, alias “Olivetti”, who remains at large, and directed him to surrender to the nearest police station to assist with ongoing investigations.
“The police are also pursuing other actors who may have participated in the mayhem,” the NPS said, adding that organisers, facilitators and sponsors of criminal activities would also be identified and held accountable.
The service warned criminal gangs and individuals involved in recruiting, financing, mobilising or arming violent groups that they would face prosecution.
“Those who recruit, finance, mobilise, arm or otherwise facilitate criminal elements to cause violence and disorder will be pursued and brought to justice,” police said.
The NPS also reminded political actors that public rallies must be held between 6am and 6pm, with the requisite notification given to police to allow adequate security planning and deployment.
The service urged all political actors to exercise restraint and respect the law, saying it remained committed to protecting life and property while safeguarding the constitutional right to peaceful assembly.