Kakamega police deploy tear gas during DCP petition delivery

Police at the Kakamega Central Police Station deployed tear gas and fired warning shots on Monday, October 12, 2026, to disperse a delegation from the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP). The group, led by DCP Secretary General Cleophas Malala and lawyer Ken Echesa, had arrived to submit a petition against Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa.

In the petition, Malala accused Governor Barasa of using violence and intimidation against political opponents. He alleged that over 300 individuals had been recruited and trained to attack rivals, torch houses, and target residents, presenting photographic evidence of burnt homes and injuries to the press. Malala, a candidate for the Kakamega gubernatorial seat in the 2027 elections, also called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to investigate the claims and stop shielding the governor.

The confrontation resulted in a scuffle inside the station and affected journalists covering the event, who were briefly detained and had equipment confiscated before it was returned following Malala’s intervention.