By Joseph Mburu

A supporter travelling with the Linda Mwananchi opposition convoy was killed after a group of rowdy youth allegedly attacked the motorcade at Keumbu Market in Kisii County.

The deceased, Vincent Osiemo, popularly known as Mapinduzi, was a father of three from Gionseri Village in Bobasi. He was reportedly travelling in one of the campaign vehicles when the convoy was ambushed near a speed bump at Keumbu Market.

Witnesses said the convoy had slowed down at the bump when youths armed with clubs and stones launched the attack. Stones were allegedly hurled at the vehicles, smashing windscreens and forcing drivers to speed away from the scene.

Osiemo is said to have been struck by a projectile before falling from the moving vehicle and sustaining serious head injuries.

Wilkins Michira, Osiemo’s employer, said the deceased was travelling in his vehicle when the attack began.

“Osiemo was in my vehicle. As we slowed down at the Keumbu bump, youths started pelting us with stones. He was thrown out of the vehicle and continued being hit by stones as the attack intensified,” Michira said.

Osiemo was rushed to Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His brother, Oscar Osiemo, described him as a dependable family man and a major source of support to his relatives.

“This family has lost a courageous young man, and he was our pillar of support,” he said.

The violence reportedly left at least 20 other supporters injured, with several taken to hospitals in Kisii and Nyamira counties for treatment.

The incident has triggered condemnation from opposition leaders and lawmakers allied with the Linda Mwananchi movement, who accused security officers of failing to act swiftly to stop the violence.

Some leaders claimed that videos circulating online showed police officers present at the scene but allegedly failing to intervene as the attackers pelted the convoy with stones.

The deceased’s family and several political leaders have now demanded accountability, including calls for the resignation of Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen over what they termed a failure by the government to guarantee security during political activities.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has launched investigations into the incident and is reportedly using viral video footage to identify those involved in the attack.

Detectives have so far arrested eight suspects allegedly captured on camera pelting the convoy with stones and other projectiles. The investigations have also taken a political dimension after Nyaribari Chache Member of Parliament Zaheer Jhanda was summoned by the DCI to record a statement over alleged involvement in the confrontation.

Authorities are expected to provide further updates as investigations continue.