Pressure is mounting on the government to guarantee the safety of opposition leaders as talk of nationwide protests grows louder.
Speaking in Mombasa on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, ODM deputy party leader and Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Sheriff Nassir called on the State to protect opposition figures and supporters if demonstrations go ahead over alleged police brutality.
Nassir took aim at a recent police raid on Witima ACK Church in Othaya, saying places of worship should never be targets of security operations.
“Targeting a church is unacceptable,” he said. “If the opposition chooses to organise peaceful protests, the government must guarantee safety and freedom for everyone involved.”
He said the right to picket and demonstrate was clearly protected under the Constitution and formed part of the values Kenya claims to uphold.
“The difference between you and us is values,” Nassir said. “Our values respect your right to demonstrate.”
The ODM deputy leader added that his party would also take steps to safeguard its supporters during any protests.
“As people demonstrate, we will ask our supporters to help provide security,” he said, in a sharp swipe at the authorities. “This is the protection you failed to give when Kenyans were demanding their rights.”
Nassir framed his remarks as a call for calm and stability, saying democracy only works when both government and opposition voices can speak freely without fear.
“Political stability comes when everyone feels safe,” he said. “That is how we keep the country united.”
His comments follow strong remarks by Democracy for the Citizen Party leader Rigathi Gachagua, who has threatened to lead nationwide protests if police officers linked to the Witima Church incident are not arrested by February 16.
Gachagua has described the raid as a targeted attack and says he has submitted the names of officers he wants investigated to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. Police have not publicly responded to those claims.
By the time of publication, the National Police Service had yet to issue an official update on investigations into the church incident.
As tensions rise, attention now turns to how the government will respond, and whether it can balance security concerns with constitutional freedoms.
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