Goonism returns to Homa Bay after arrest of suspected gang leader

The fangs of goonism returned to Homa Bay on Friday, rearing their ugly head and illustrating how deeply the region has fallen into gang violence, as the town descended into chaos and anarchy following the arrest of suspected gang leader Abdi Kassim Sebo.

He bears all the marks of a powerful underground leader operating with apparent impunity, unafraid to make threats on camera against those who oppose his views.

Sebo, who has been accused of acting as though he were above the law, has been implicated in the bloody chaos that rocked a Linda Mwananchi rally in Homa Bay on August 16, 2026.

More than two months after police asked him to surrender to record a statement with detectives over the attack, he had yet to appear, although he had reportedly resurfaced.

According to detectives, the immediate reason for his arrest was a court warrant issued after he failed to appear in court in a separate assault case.

On Thursday and into Friday, youths associated with him brought Homa Bay town to a virtual lockdown, attacking residents and hurling stones at motorists.

The wave of violence erupted shortly after he was arrested by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), who had been pursuing him since he allegedly defied a directive to surrender to authorities.

According to sources, Sebo resurfaced a few weeks ago after more than a month in hiding and had been operating at Homa Bay’s main bus park, where he commands a large group of youths.

Police were reportedly aware of his presence but had yet to arrest him as he resumed his normal activities weeks after being accused of mobilising goons to attack opposition leaders.

Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity claimed that powerful political players in the region were protecting Sebo, attributing the police’s failure to arrest him earlier to their alleged influence.

His arrest, however, contrasts with how police have handled other suspects. In many cases, officers have been quick to parade suspects before cameras and post their pictures on the National Police Service’s official social media platforms.

By Friday, police had yet to confirm where Sebo was being held, but sources told The Saturday Standard that he had been driven to Nairobi.

On Thursday night, shortly after his arrest, Homa Bay descended into chaos as goons wreaked havoc in the town. The violence spilled into Friday, subjecting traders to heavy losses, intimidation and threats.

The scenes resembled a Hollywood movie, with daring goons blocking roads, attacking private vehicles and forcing traders to close their shops in a show of solidarity with their arrested leader.

The rowdy youths barricaded the Homa Bay-Rongo road, lit bonfires and hurled stones at residents in protest, demanding Sebo’s release.

The town came to a standstill, businesses remained deserted and public service vehicles withdrew from the town as the goons harassed residents.

The youths demanded the release of Sebo, who had been taken to an undisclosed police station the previous evening.

They claimed Kassim was their leader and insisted they could not allow his arrest to go unchallenged.

Motorists who had parked their vehicles at the bus terminus scampered for safety at Homa Bay Police Station, fearing for their lives and the safety of their vehicles.

Several traders complained that their businesses had been looted by protesters on Thursday night. Those affected operated premises in the town’s central business district.

“As traders, we have suffered because our shelves for displaying newspapers were used for lighting fires on the road. It was a bad experience,” said a newspaper vendor in the town.

Police used tear gas to disperse the youths, who disappeared after officers overpowered them. Officers worked with residents opposed to the protests to remove the stones used to barricade roads.

Homa Bay County Criminal Investigations Officer Jimmy Kisobo said they had managed to restore calm in the town.

By 9.30am, calm had begun to return, and by 10.30am, business activities had resumed. 

Kisobo said Sebo had been arrested over two offences. The first was his failure to appear in court after being arrested and released on cash bail in early August.

“There was a time we arrested him over an assault, and he was released on cash bail on condition that he would report in court. But he did not do so until the court issued an arrest warrant,” Kisobo said.

The failure to appear in court led to the issuance of an arrest warrant against Kassim.

“We have been looking for him based on the warrant of arrest that was issued, and we managed to find him on Thursday,” Kisobo said.

The second offence relates to the violence that occurred during the Linda Mwananchi rally on August 16.

“We were also looking for him to answer charges over the destruction which occurred at Tourist Hotel ahead of the Linda Mwananchi rally in Homa Bay town,” Kisobo said.

The DCI boss urged residents to remain calm as investigations continued.

“Let the residents be calm and allow the law to take its course. They should not do anything supporting violation of a court order,” Kisobo added.

He said investigators were awaiting directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) over the destruction of another hotel, Delpam Resort, at Koduogo trading centre in Homa Bay Sub-county. The property was also damaged during the Linda Mwananchi rally.

“We have completed our investigations over the destruction at the hotel and we are just waiting for the DPP’s direction,” Kisobo said.

Sebo’s supporters are described by residents as loud, brazen and unapologetic. Their language, according to critics, is marked by threats and violence against those opposing President William Ruto’s re-election bid and that of senior ODM politicians who are alleged to be bankrolling their activities.

For residents of Homa Bay, crossing their path or advancing an alternative political position can be enough to attract a potentially life-threatening beating, insults and threats.

The group is also accused of openly issuing threats on social media, with members unafraid to show their faces on camera as security agencies appear powerless to stop the online bravado of what critics describe as an organised political gang.

In a past interview with The Standard following the bloody attack in Homa Bay, residents recounted how Abdi led groups of youths through streets and estates, questioning residents about their political loyalties. Those who supported the Linda Mwananchi movement were allegedly beaten.

So influential is Abdi that when he was briefly arrested on August 4 over allegations of attacking Linda Mwananchi supporters, his followers staged protests, attacked business premises and blocked roads.

The supporters had been accused of helping the national team with preparations for the rally held the previous Sunday.

The arrest followed allegations that Abdi had attacked Linda Mwananchi coordinator in Homa Bay County Samuel Nyauke and human rights defender Evance Oloo.

According to Nyauke, Abdi raided his office in the company of goons and attacked two men they found there.

A few minutes later, he encountered Oloo and allegedly assaulted him as well.

Oloo and Nyauke said Abdi attacked them because they were promoting the Linda Mwananchi Movement in Homa Bay County.

“Abdi attacked me because I was supporting Linda Mwananchi, but I told him it was my constitutional right to do so. He injured me, and I am in the process of seeking legal redress,” Oloo said.

In a video that went viral on social media, Abdi was seen threatening a man before picking up two stones and encouraging his victim to continue filming him, saying he was unbothered.

After the alleged attacks on Nyauke and Oloo, Abdi was arrested at about 2pm. He was detained for several hours before being released that night on cash bail.

When he returned to Homa Bay town the following day, his supporters welcomed him like a hero.

Yesterday, Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo and Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga described the incidents as unfortunate and unacceptable.

“What is going on in Homa Bay is sad. It was planted. It took root. It germinated. It is producing fruit. Sad by a lot,” Millie said.