Untouchable goons: The brazen political militia reigning terror on opposition

Goons attack Linda Mwanachi Convoy at Koduogo in Homabay County.[Sammy Omingo,Standard]

They are well-known, loud, untouchable and unapologetic. Their language is one-fear and violence against anyone opposing the push for President William Ruto’s reelection and that of senior ODM politicians bankrolling their activities.

To the residents of Homa Bay, stepping on their path or fronting an alternative political worldview is a magnet enough to attract a life-threatening beating, insults, and threats. They are the group unafraid to hide their faces from cameras and have been issuing threats on social media as security agencies join other Kenyans as spectators to the online bravado by a seemingly organized political gang.

Ahead of Sunday’s bloody Linda Mwananchi rally, they had posed for cameras, issuing threats and daring the opposition to set foot in Homa Bay, and after the chaos, paraded themselves again on TikTok and Facebook to celebrate what they described as a successful brick wall they established in Homa Bay that prevented the leaders from addressing residents in the town.

But still, they are roaming free, bragging publicly and flashing the two-fingered signs symbolising President William Ruto, Governor Gladys Wanga and Homa Bay Town MP Opondo Kaluma’s reelection.

Yesterday, as the death toll from the brutal attack on the Linda Mwananchi convoy rose to four after the body of another man was found in a thicket in Oyugis with stab wounds, some of the goons believed to have participated in the attacks were in a celebratory mood on social media.

An investigation by The Standard has unearthed the faces of some of the notorious goons who were at the centre of the plan to scatter Linda Mwananchi supporters and block the leaders from accessing Homa Bay town.

The Standard also reviewed several video clips showing some of the masterminds addressing political events attended by senior ODM leaders and Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo.

Sources told The Standard that their operations are well-known, while police sources also complained that the ringleaders are enjoying protection from senior government officials.

This perhaps explains their daring moves of documenting their activities on social media and brags of the attack on the Linda Mwananchi brigade.

The group works closely with senior ODM leaders and government officials in mobilising youths to attend events but also runs the errand of facing off with critics of the leaders. Last weekend, they unleashed terror on residents, patrolling the streets and estates.

At the centre of the goon activity was an ODM youth leader identified as Kassim Sebo Abdi, popularly known as Commander 001, who multiple sources allege he was at the centre of the mobilisation efforts that led to the attack on Linda Mwananchi brigade.

Moments after the attack on Monday, Abdi was leading a group of youths in celebrations and mocked the Linda Mwananchi brigade for failing to address a rally in Homa Bay Town, describing the lakeside town as no-go zone. In the video posted on social media, Abdi could be seen bragging that the attack was just a rehearsal. “We were rehearsing with you,” he says in the video.

Yesterday, a section of residents recounted how Abdi led a multitude of youths through the streets and estates, and questioned residents about whether they were supporting one-term or two-term ahead of the rally on Sunday. Those who threw their weight behind one-term were beaten.

An insider narrated to The Standard how Abdi mobilised youths to attack the convoy, claiming that they were paid Sh4,000. The funds were allegedly supplied by two senior government officials, a governor through a close relative and an MP.

“He helped mobilise youths. He is the one who was in direct contact with the leaders who had declared that we do not allow campaigns against the broad-based government,” said a source.

The source intimated that he is the one always charged with the responsibility of mobilising goons and is a close ally of senior politicians. Within ODM, he serves as a youth leader in charge of Homa Bay and works closely with allies identified only by their aliases Odhis, Henry and Fred.

He coordinates the goons from various parts of the county during political operations. After the operation, Abdi pays the youth the amount of money they had agreed on.

Whenever the assignment is massive like Sunday’s, the source said, he is the one who coordinates the outsourcing of goons from neighbouring counties, including Kisumu, Kisii and Migori.

“Sometimes, people are paid before work or after work. The amount varies from Sh1,000 to Sh3, 000 depending on the risk involved in that work,” said a youth.

So influential is Abdi that when he was briefly arrested on August 4 for attacking Linda Mwanainchi supporters they had accused of helping the national team with the planning of last Sunday’s rally, his platoon of followers staged protests, attacking business premises and blocking roads.

This was after he allegedly attacked Linda Mwananchi Co-ordinator in Homa Bay County Samuel Nyauke, and human rights defender Evance Oloo. According to Nyauke, Abdi raided his office in the company of goons, attacking two men they found at the office.

A few minutes later, he met Oloo and assaulted him too.

Oloo and Nyauke said Abdi attacked them because they were promoting the Linda Mwananchi Movement in Homa Bay County.

“Abdi attacked me because I was supporting Linda Mwananchi but I told him it was my constitutional right to do so. He injured me and I am in the process of seeking legal redress,” Oloo said.

In a video that went viral on social media, Abdi could be seen threatening the man before picking two stones as he encouraged his victim to continue filming him, adding that he was unbothered.

Immediately after attacking Nyauke and Oloo, Abdi was arrested at about 2 pm. He was detained for some hours before being released at night.

He was released on a cash bail.

When he returned to Homa Bay town the following day, Abdi was welcomed by his members like a hero.

Yesterday, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua sensationally claimed that Abdi was released on orders of President Ruto and to help with the planning of the violence that was meted on Linda Mwanainchi in Homa Bay.

On Saturday, hours after Homa Bay Town MP Opondo Kaluma declared that they had ordered their troops to ransack hotels for Linda Mwanainchi supporters, Homa Bay Tourist Hotel was attacked by goons.

The proprietor of the facility claimed that Abdi was the one leading the group of youth who attacked his hotel, adding that he was the one barking orders to the group.

Odongo said the youth entered the hotel pretending to be looking for Linda Mwananchi leaders who had booked the hotel.

But within minutes, the youths vandalised the facility before fleeing. They also carried statues of crocodile and hippopotamus used to beautify the facility and disappeared with them.

“The information I have got from my workers is that a group of youth led by Abdi stormed my hotel and looted my property. They scared guests and workers who were on duty. When they realised they were alone, looting and destruction became the order of the day,” Odongo said.

Odongo expressed concerns over the gravity of the damages he suffered due to the invasion.

“My workers thought they were looking for Linda Mwananchi leaders yet the leaders were not in the hotel. Sadly, their actions turned into a looting spree,” Odongo said.

On Sunday, the goons took over control of the town from 6 am on Saturday, when the Linda Mwananchi team was expected to arrive in the town ahead of their rally in the county later in the day.

The youths barricaded all roads leading into Homa Bay town. They intended to deter the Linda Mwananchi politicians from entering.

Some of the youths were dressed in their combat gear while others were in normal clothes.

However, those who were wielding pangas, clubs and other crude weapons scared residents. Anybody whom they perceived to be supporting the One Term slogan were being attacked with pangas.

Those who were attacked sustained serious panga cuts. In some instances, they could approach people who were walking on the road to gauge their political positions.

The goons could innocently ask residents whether they were supporting One Term or Two Term slogans.

Those who replied One Term were assaulted with pangas on the spot.

Meanwhile, yesterday, former Homa Bay Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga asked Murkomen to arrest all the leaders over deaths and destruction of property that occurred in the county.

The violence left at least four people dead and more than 54 others injured.

At least six vehicles were burnt beyond repair during the violence. Property worth millions of shillings was also damaged.

Magwanga has said leaders who incited youths to cause the violence should not be spared.

The former deputy governor accused Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma as the first leader who should be arrested.

Kaluma was recorded in a video when he was inciting youths against people supporting One Term slogan. He has since been summoned by NCIC.

He was also heard telling his supporters to inspect hotels to ensure Linda Mwananchi leaders did not get an opportunity to book hotels in the constituency.

After his comments, some youths raided Homa Bay Tourist Hotel and looted all movable property on Saturday evening.

Magwanga argued that such incitement led to the violence witnessed in Homa Bay.