Tension erupted at Kakamega Central Police Station after police officers lobbed teargas canisters and fired several shots into the air to disperse a group led by DCP deputy party leader Cleophas Malala and lawyer Ken Echesa.
The group had visited the station to present a petition to the regional Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) office over alleged intimidation and harassment by individuals they claimed had been hired to target people perceived to oppose Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa's leadership.
The confrontation followed the arrest of a Nairobi-based blogger who was taken to Kakamega over an alleged social media post linked to Malala.
The post reportedly featured images purporting to show Governor Barasa in a compromising situation during an alleged visit to a witchdoctor.
The blogger was accused of commenting on the post, although details of the allegations against him were not immediately clear. He was later released after recording a statement with investigators.
Journalists covering the incident also reported being harassed by police officers during the confrontation. A mobile phone belonging to a Citizen TV journalist was reportedly confiscated before being returned following Malala's intervention.
Malala and Echesa condemned the police response, saying they would continue pursuing justice despite what they described as attempts to intimidate them.
They further alleged that the police system in Kakamega had been compromised by politicians, raising concerns over the handling of complaints involving individuals perceived to be political opponents.
The incident disrupted activities at the police station as officers moved to disperse the group, which had gathered to present its concerns to investigators.
The allegations involving the governor and the claims of political intimidation had not been independently established.
The circumstances surrounding the confrontation, including the police response and the reported treatment of journalists, were not immediately clarified.
No response from Governor Barasa or the police was included in the information available at the time of publication.
