What Led to Malala Being Teargassed at Kakamega Police Station While Filing a Petition, Revealed

Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala was reportedly tear-gassed by police officers at Kakamega Central Police Station on Monday, October 12, while attempting to submit a public petition to county police officials.

Malala had visited the station to raise concerns over alleged political violence, intimidation and the use of goons in Kakamega County. He accused Governor Fernandes Barasa of allegedly deploying individuals to attack political opponents and disrupt political activities.

Tensions escalated at the police station, where officers reportedly fired shots into the air to disperse the crowd. The confrontation also involved demands for the release of a blogger who had reportedly been arrested by police.

Despite the confrontation, Malala eventually managed to submit his petition after calm returned. He said the document highlighted concerns about alleged violence, intimidation and the conduct of some police officers in handling political disputes within Kakamega County.

In his statement, Malala accused Governor Barasa of allegedly hiring and training more than 300 goons to target political opponents. He further claimed that some individuals had been involved in attacks, house torching and intimidation, allegations that require independent verification.

The former Kakamega Senator also accused local police investigators of failing to address reported incidents of political violence. He called on the relevant authorities to investigate the allegations and ensure that law enforcement officers remained impartial in political disputes.

Malala specifically criticised the county Criminal Investigations Department leadership, arguing that its response to the alleged incidents had been inadequate. He called for the transfer of the county investigations boss, insisting that decisive action was necessary to address the concerns.

The DCP deputy party leader also challenged the Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) to act on an earlier threat to arrest him. Malala maintained that he was prepared to present evidence supporting his allegations against Governor Barasa.