Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has alleged that he and his team were targeted at Kisumu International Airport after armed individuals reportedly barricaded the airport ahead of their planned landing for the Linda Mwananchi rally in Kakamega on Saturday, February 21.
Posting on social media on Sunday, February 22, Sifuna accused the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) of allowing the group access to the airport, raising concerns over passenger safety.
He said his team returned safely to Nairobi but expressed serious questions for KAA regarding the protection of passengers and confidentiality of their data.
Sifuna Alleges Disruption at Kisumu Airport Ahead of Linda Mwananchi Rally. Photo: Courtesy.
Sifuna further claimed that the barricade, allegedly orchestrated by state-backed actors, blocked their landing at Kisumu before they could continue to Kakamega.
In a related claim concerning data and privacy breaches, the senator alleged that the airline used for their flight from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Kisumu International Airport shared their personal information with officials from the Ministry of Interior, potentially compromising their safety.
Following intelligence from their sources, Sifuna’s team was able to adjust their travel plans and evade the alleged attacks.
Rather than landing at Kisumu International Airport, the Linda Mwananchi team touched down at the Kakamega Airstrip.
The allegations come a day after a faction of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) opposed to the broad-based government held a rally in Kakamega County, an event that reportedly saw violence from state-backed actors.
Police allegedly deployed teargas at the crowd even before leaders arrived.
Following their arrival, another teargas round was launched, but unlike at the Kitengela rally where disruptions abruptly halted proceedings the Kakamega rally continued.
During the event, one person was confirmed dead amid clashes between Linda Mwananchi supporters and a rival faction aligned with the government and its road-based wing.
Authorities had not released an official statement by the time of publication, and no response had been issued regarding Sifuna’s claims.
