Running battles erupted at Kakamega Central Police Station on Monday, October 12, after police fired tear gas and shots into the air to disperse DCP leaders and activists who had gone to present a petition against Governor Fernandes Barasa.
The group, led by Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) Secretary General Cleophas Malala and lawyer Ken Echesa, had arrived at the station to accuse the governor of intimidating political opponents.
Tensions escalated shortly after their arrival, with police lobbing tear gas canisters and firing shots into the air, triggering a scuffle at the station.
Journalists covering the confrontation were also caught up in the chaos, with police reportedly confiscating some of their equipment.
Screengrabs of heavy police presence inside Kakamega Central Police Station, with DCP Secretary General Cleophas Malala matching inside the station to present a petition against Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa over violence on opposition.
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Citizen Digital
Their equipment was later returned after Malala intervened, as the confrontation unfolded amid growing political tensions surrounding the arrest of a Nairobi-based blogger.
In his petition, Malala accused Barasa of using violence and intimidation against perceived opponents, calling on security agencies to investigate allegations of politically motivated attacks.
“We have presented a public petition to the police leadership in Kakamega in what seems to be runaway political violence, goonship and intimidation of the people from compromised officers,” Malala stated.
The former senator claimed that more than 300 people had been recruited and trained to attack political rivals, torch houses, and target residents.
He also shared photos of burnt houses and injured people with the press.
Malala, who is eyeing the Kakamega gubernatorial seat, further accused compromised police officers of enabling intimidation and claimed that the governor was using violence to deal with political opponents.
He also protested the arrest of digital creators, particularly Anyama wa Anyama, arguing that authorities should not use criminal proceedings to suppress online expression.
He called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to stop shielding Barasa and individuals allegedly linked to the attacks, demanding decisive action against the reported incidents.
The confrontation follows a public dispute between Malala and Barasa over a controversial social media post allegedly linked to the former senator and targeting the governor.
The blogger's arrest reportedly followed alleged comments linked to the post, further escalating the dispute as Malala and his allies demanded investigations into the accusations against the governor.
This comes as Malala is seeking to run for the Kakamega gubernatorial seat in the August 2027 general elections under DCP, seeking to replace Baraza, who will be defending his seat on ODM ticket.
President William Ruto and Kakamega governor Fernandes Barasa during a function in November 2024.
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William Ruto