“Not Police”: Nelson Koech Raises Fresh Questions Over Sifuna Rally Teargas
What really happened in Kitengela on Sunday?
That’s the question Belgut MP Nelson Koech now wants answered — and not in whispers. Out loud. Clearly. With facts.
After chaos disrupted an ODM rally led by embattled Senator Edwin Sifuna, Koech has suggested something that’s already stirring debate: what if it wasn’t the police who deployed the teargas?
Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV on Monday, the MP called for a full investigation, insisting that only authorised officers should handle such equipment.
“People are most likely not police officers to be in possession of tear gas canisters. That’s why I’m saying the police must investigate and find out. We’ve realised lately… you’ve had Honourable Gachagua himself say that he has now employed retired officers and former officers of the police and the security sector as his personal security. You don’t know what they possess,” Koech said.
That statement alone has shifted the tone of the conversation.
Political Intolerance or Security Breakdown?
Koech didn’t stop there.
He warned against what he described as creeping political intolerance — something he believes Kenya cannot afford.
“That is political intolerance. Political violence, of any manifestation, should not be discouraged. It should not be entertained at all. I have looked at the clip last night, just to confirm what really happened; We should allow people to give their views, listen to the manifesto and allow free political expression,” Koech said.
And honestly, that’s where the tension lies.
Was it crowd control? Was it provocation? Or was it something deeper — a signal of shrinking political space?
How the Kitengela Rally Spiraled Into Chaos
Sunday’s rally in Kitengela was meant to be a show of strength by the Orange Democratic Movement’s (ODM) Linda Mwananchi faction.
Instead, it ended in smoke.
Police fired shots into the air. Teargas canisters were lobbed. Supporters scattered. Within minutes, the town centre was engulfed, and the rally came to an abrupt halt.
Hundreds of supporters chanting the now-familiar “one term” slogan surged forward while leaders addressed them. Security officers were overwhelmed. Some youths hurled stones. Reinforcements were called in. A police Landcruiser’s windscreen was shattered in the commotion.
Then came the teargas.
People ran. Shops closed. Confusion took over. Several individuals were reportedly injured in a stampede.
It all happened fast — too fast.
Sifuna: “We Shall Not Relent.”
Edwin Sifuna didn’t stay silent.
Taking to X after the incident, he wrote:
“Thank You Kitengela. In spite of all the harassment, intimidation and violence from this morning, you showed up. They first destroyed our dais and sound equipment in the morning, and the state goons have now teargassed a peaceful assembly and brought it to an abrupt end. We shall not relent.”
That message — bold, defiant — immediately energized supporters.
Earlier in the day, his team had already disrupted business along the busy Kitengela–Namanga Highway, prompting traders to hurriedly close shops despite heavy police deployment.
The political tour had begun peacefully, with a church service at ACK St Peter’s Orkeju Church in Kisaju, Kajiado East Sub-County.
But by afternoon, everything had changed.
“A Rebel With a Cause”
In what was his first major public address since being reinstated by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal, Sifuna struck a combative tone.
He described himself as “a rebel with a cause.”
“Kenyans are giving me comfort. Even if they eliminate me, at least more than 15 million Kenyans will soldier on with this noble course to liberate our country. Our economy is on its knees. They (the State) are threatening us to keep silent lest we lose our positions,” he said.
Strong words. Heavy accusations.
Corruption. Abductions. Extrajudicial killings. Sifuna didn’t hold back.
And neither did his allies.
Orengo and Osotsi Join the Offensive
Siaya Governor James Orengo criticised ODM party leader Oburu Odinga, accusing the party of being compromised.
“Our forefathers had a vision for this country that gave birth to democracy and stability. The Sifuna-led team has what it takes to bring change to our nation. This movement is not about the 2027 elections; it is about liberating our country now. Only a despot would eliminate budding politicians, but no one can stop a country’s liberation. We will traverse this nation and instil courage in Kenyans who are living in fear under a dictatorial regime,” Orengo added.
ODM Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi went further, claiming the party was “remotely controlled by the State,” and urged members to protect its legacy.
So now, the story isn’t just about teargas.
It’s about control. About political space. About who really holds power — and who’s challenging it.
The Bigger Question
Was Sunday’s chaos simply crowd mismanagement?
Or is it a symptom of something more serious — a widening rift inside ODM and a broader national political standoff?
Koech wants answers about who deployed the teargas.
Sifuna wants political space.
Supporters want change.
And Kenyans? They’re watching.
Closely.
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“Not Police”: Nelson Koech Raises Fresh Questions Over Sifuna Rally Teargas