Nairobi Senator Edwin W. Sifuna has accused state agencies of exposing him and his allies to danger, alleging that goons barricaded Kisumu International Airport and that confidential travel details were leaked from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
In a statement on Sunday after returning to Nairobi, Sifuna said the #LindaMwananchi team arrived safely despite what he termed as “traps of the enemy”.
“By God’s grace and your prayers, the #LindaMwananchi team arrived safely in Nairobi. We thank all of you who showed up and stood with us to beat all the traps of the enemy,” he said.
The Orange Democratic Movement Secretary-General called on the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) to clarify whether Kisumu still meets the standards of an international airport and whether passenger safety can be guaranteed.
“We need to hear from the Kenya Airports Authority whether Kisumu is still an International Airport and whether they can still guarantee the safety of all passengers transiting through there. How they allowed goons to barricade the airport needs to be explained,” he said.
He further alleged that although the team had booked commercial flights from JKIA, their itinerary was shared with individuals at the Ministry of Interior.
“The Airlines shared our itinerary with the ghouls in the Ministry of Interior knowing full well they were endangering our safety. Shame on you people bwana,” Sifuna claimed, adding that they changed their travel plans after receiving intelligence about the alleged threats.
The incident comes amid heightened political activity in Kisumu, a traditional opposition stronghold, where leaders allied to the #LindaMwananchi movement have been mobilising supporters around governance and accountability issues. In recent months, opposition politicians have accused security agencies of frustrating their rallies and movements, claims the government has consistently denied.
Kisumu International Airport, which was upgraded to international status to boost trade and regional connectivity, has in the past hosted high-profile political delegations. Any security breach at the facility would raise concerns about passenger safety and operational integrity.
Sifuna, a vocal critic of President William Ruto’s administration, has repeatedly accused the government of using state machinery to intimidate dissenting voices. The government has dismissed such claims, insisting that security agencies operate within the law.
By Sunday evening, neither KAA nor the Ministry of Interior had publicly responded to the latest allegations.
“This is not the sort of country we want to live in. We must change it. We will change it Inshallah,” Sifuna said.
