The death toll from violent clashes on Sunday near St Stephen’s ACK Cathedral in Kisumu has risen to two after one of the injured victims died in hospital, authorities have confirmed.
The victims suffered multiple stab wounds during disturbances that broke out close to the church, where a service was being held alongside a harambee.
Nine motorcycles were set alight and at least one vehicle was damaged in the unrest. Security officials said timely intelligence prevented a far larger tragedy.
Addressing a joint briefing by the County Security Committee on Monday, County Commissioner Mohammed Ramadhan Mwabudzo said officers were deployed rapidly after receiving reports that youths were being mobilised.
“Our intelligence was timely and accurate,” Mwabudzo said. “The youths started gathering at around 9am, and by around 11am, we had already deployed security officers to secure the area. That is why we were able to avert a much bigger crisis.”
He added that authorities had initially believed the gathering to be an ordinary church service, only to discover it had become a fundraising event that drew rival political supporters.
Mwabudzo urged political leaders planning public events, including those at churches, to notify security agencies in advance. “We are here to provide security to everyone,” he said. “There is no need for leaders to hire gangs or other groups to provide security. We have enough officers to secure every public event.”
Investigations suggest many of the young people involved were recruited without a full understanding of what they were being asked to do. According to officials, they were assembled at Victoria Park, armed with pangas, machetes, and jembe handles, before being directed towards the cathedral area.
The commissioner warned that authorities were pursuing not only those directly involved in the violence but also the financiers, organisers and coordinators behind it.
‘Organised criminal activity’
Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, reading a statement on behalf of the County Security Committee, described the incident as “organised criminal activity”.
Eight suspects arrested in connection with the clashes are due to appear in court as investigations continue, and detectives are examining videos circulating on social media and other digital evidence to identify additional perpetrators.
The governor stressed that organised criminal violence would not be tolerated and that anyone found sponsoring or facilitating such acts would face the full force of the law.
Mwabudzo noted that security operations across Kisumu County have already led to more than 200 arrests in the past two weeks, promising a continued crackdown on criminal networks.
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