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Kenyan police have been deployed in large numbers in Nairobi for a rally by rising opposition figure Edwin Sifuna, following a series of political violence in recent weeks.
Sifuna, 44, has emerged as a prominent challenger to President William Ruto ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The opposition politician has gained support by tapping into public anger over corruption and political violence, although critics question whether he has the experience needed to lead the country.
Sifuna’s rally began with a visit to a church in central Nairobi, where hundreds of supporters had gathered outside while a large number of police officers maintained a security perimeter, according to AFP journalists at the scene.
One churchgoer, 41-year-old Juliette, said she was worried by the large turnout and feared the rally could become chaotic. She also said she feared Ruto could send supporters to disrupt the event, saying she believed she knew the President’s character.
“I am a bit scared, I didn’t expect this. It has caused a lot of chaos,” Juliette said.
“It is the president, I know what kind of man he is, I’m not going to mince my words,” she told AFP.
Sifuna, who has toured the country in recent weeks, has previously seen his rallies disrupted by groups of armed men who attacked his supporters and members of the media.
Kenyan politicians across the political divide often recruit young men to provide security and confront their opponents, a practice that has frequently resulted in deadly violence.
On Saturday, Kenyan media reported that hundreds of people disrupted a rally for Deputy President Kithure Kindiki in Embu County, north of Nairobi, leading to clashes with police.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) said this week that six people had been killed and dozens injured in attacks targeting civil society meetings and political gatherings in recent months.
HRW Deputy Africa Director Carine Kaneza Nantulya warned that the violence threatened a return to the human rights abuses that had characterised previous Kenyan elections. She called on authorities to end the cycle of violence and ensure those responsible were held accountable.
“The spate of violence, as the pre-election period begins, threatens a return to the human rights abuses that have marred Kenya’s previous elections,” Nantulya said.
