A man described by police as the leader of a gang operating in Homa Bay is expected to appear before the Kisii Law Courts on October 12 to answer robbery with violence charges. The suspect was arrested last week alongside eight other men during a police operation conducted on Thursday night. Authorities said his transfer to Kisii was ordered by a Homa Bay court on Friday, citing security concerns.
The arrests triggered unrest in Homa Bay town, prompting anti-riot officers to intervene and restore calm. Police subsequently arrested at least 19 additional suspects over the weekend as security operations continued.
The eight men apprehended alongside the alleged gang leader were presented before the Homa Bay Law Courts, where the court authorised their detention at Oyugis Police Station for seven days to allow investigators to complete their inquiries.
Their arrest followed the execution of a warrant issued by the Homa Bay Chief Magistrate’s Court in connection with Criminal Case No. E300/2026, referenced under CR 617/142/2026.
Police said the gang leader had been sought over an alleged offence of assault causing actual bodily harm, contrary to Section 251 of the Penal Code. He has also been linked by investigators to a series of robbery and assault incidents reported in the area. The operation was conducted by officers from Homa Bay Police Station and detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), under the command of County Police Commander Lawrence Koilem.
According to police, the eight men accompanying the suspect allegedly obstructed officers as they attempted to arrest him, leading to their detention.
The suspect has also come under scrutiny in investigations into violent incidents that occurred in Homa Bay during the visit by the Linda Mwananchi team. Police had directed him to surrender to the DCI at its Homa Bay County headquarters to assist with inquiries into the unrest, but he reportedly failed to comply.
The violence under investigation left at least 10 people dead, including a police officer, while scores of others sustained injuries reportedly inflicted with machetes. Vehicles were also damaged, and journalists covering the rally were attacked.
Reports have identified the suspect as the alleged leader of the Hammer Boys, a group associated with claims of political mobilisation and violence in the region. He has also been reported to have links to senior political and government figures from the area.
Investigations into the violence and the group’s alleged activities remain ongoing. The allegations against the suspect and those arrested with him remain unproven unless established before a court of law.
