MERU, Kenya — A Linda Mwananchi rally in Makutano, Meru County, was briefly disrupted on Sunday after police fired teargas into the gathering, forcing some supporters to scatter as opposition leaders addressed the crowd.
The incident occurred on August 30, 2026, during the movement’s first major mobilisation event in Meru, attended by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza and other opposition figures.
Teargas canisters landed near the gathering, sending sections of the crowd running for safety. The disruption was, however, temporary, with supporters regrouping after the smoke cleared and the rally continuing.
Sifuna urged the crowd to remain calm and insisted that the use of teargas would not stop the movement’s activities.
“Wachana nayo kabisa, wacha ipungue itaisha. Hakuna siku tear gas itamaliza mkutano wa Linda Mwananchi,” Sifuna told supporters.
The Nairobi senator’s response underscored the increasingly confrontational environment surrounding Linda Mwananchi’s nationwide mobilisation ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The incident came less than two weeks after the movement’s tour of Homa Bay County was disrupted by violence, raising fresh concerns about the safety of political gatherings as parties and emerging movements begin positioning themselves for the 2027 elections.
The August 16 Homa Bay tour was accompanied by road blockades and clashes, with Linda Mwananchi alleging that its supporters and leaders were not adequately protected.
The National Police Service subsequently announced the arrest of 37 suspected gang members in connection with the violence and said investigations would continue against alleged organisers, facilitators and financiers.
The Meru rally had therefore been closely watched, particularly after warnings of possible disruptions emerged ahead of the visit.
On Saturday, former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi denied links to a group of youths who had reportedly opposed Kawira Mwangaza accompanying Sifuna to parts of Meru.
Linturi said his name had been invoked by the youths and maintained that political leaders and citizens had a constitutional right to visit different parts of the country.
Mwangaza had also called on the National Police Service and security authorities in Meru to protect Linda Mwananchi leaders and supporters following threats against her participation in the tour.
She said attempts to use youths to intimidate political opponents amounted to “goonism” and urged security agencies to take the threats seriously.
The Makutano gathering formed part of Linda Mwananchi’s broader effort to build a grassroots political network ahead of the 2027 elections.
Sifuna had announced the Meru tour earlier this month, initially indicating that the movement would focus on Meru Town before returning for engagements in other parts of the county.
The movement has been touring different parts of Kenya as its leaders seek to mobilise voters around a common opposition platform.
Sifuna has emerged as one of its most prominent figures, while Mwangaza’s involvement gives the movement a high-profile political ally with a strong local connection in Meru.
The senator arrived in the county to a warm reception from some residents, who presented him with agricultural produce including maize, cassava and potatoes before the rally.
Despite the disruption, Sifuna used the platform to intensify his criticism of President William Ruto and his administration.
He accused the President’s 2022 campaign strategy of contributing to the country’s current problems and urged Kenyans to support the opposition movement.
The Meru rally also provided Linda Mwananchi leaders with an opportunity to sharpen their political message as they seek to challenge the Kenya Kwanza administration in the next election.
The movement’s expansion into Meru is politically significant because it represents an attempt by opposition leaders to build support beyond their traditional strongholds and establish a wider national coalition.
The teargas incident also places renewed attention on the relationship between political mobilisation and policing in Kenya.
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While the circumstances that prompted officers to deploy teargas at the Makutano rally were not immediately clear, the incident is likely to generate questions over the policing of opposition gatherings and the use of force during political events.
Neither the National Police Service nor senior police officials had, by the time of publication, publicly provided a detailed explanation for the deployment of teargas at the Makutano rally.
The lack of an immediate official explanation means it would be premature to establish why the officers deployed the chemical irritant or whether its use complied with operational requirements.
For Linda Mwananchi, however, the message from the Meru rally was clear: despite the disruption, its leaders intend to continue taking their campaign to different parts of Kenya.
The movement’s next challenge will be maintaining peaceful mobilisation while navigating an increasingly competitive political environment ahead of 2027.
