Member of Parliament for Suba South Hon. Caroli Omondi has boldly accused Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga of orchestrating the recent violent clashes in the county, characterizing her public displays of sympathy for the victims as “crocodile tears.”
During a televised interview on Wednesday evening, August 19, 2026, Omondi delivered a pointed critique of the county chief, highlighting the political unrest surrounding opposition gatherings in Homa Bay County.
“It is truly shameful for Governor Wanga to appear before the mourning family, feigning condolences while being the very architect of the turmoil in Homa Bay,” Omondi asserted during the broadcast.
The MP further claimed that the local violence was not spontaneous but rather a calculated effort by political operatives disguised as defenders of party interests.
“This violence was meticulously planned, organized, executed, and celebrated by these individuals in the name of supporting President Ruto and defending what they call the ODM strongholds,” he elaborated.
These accusations follow a series of chaotic clashes on Sunday, August 16, 2026, when a rally organized by the opposition-leaning “Linda Mwananchi” movement erupted into violence as leaders traversed the county.
Youth groups blockaded major access routes, including significant roads through Oyugis, Sindo, and Ndhiwa, using boulders, burning tyres, and erecting roadblocks to impede the convoy led by Suba South MP Caroli Omondi.
High-profile leaders accompanying the Linda Mwananchi group, such as Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, Siaya Governor James Orengo, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, and former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati, encountered severe hostility and stone-throwing along their route.
Wangamati reported a direct ambush at Asumbi Junction.
Police intervened with tear gas to disperse crowds hurling stones at the vehicles. Several vehicles within the procession sustained damage, and local authorities confirmed the apprehension of suspects armed with crude weapons during the disturbances.
In the aftermath, members of the Linda Mwananchi movement, including former Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo and activist Pauline Njoroge, convened a press conference demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of Governor Wanga and Homa Bay Town MP Opondo Kaluma, accusing them of making inflammatory statements against the group.
Rights organization Amnesty International Kenya also released a statement advocating for accountability regarding the violence.
This sharp rhetoric highlights a growing divide within the political landscape of Nyanza, historically a bastion of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Relations among regional leaders have become increasingly strained following recent shifts in national political alignments, creating rifts between loyal party officials and those advocating for cooperation with the national administration.
Governor Wanga and MP Opondo Kaluma have firmly denied any involvement in orchestrating the violence, with local police authorities confirming that investigations into the clashes are ongoing.
