Nairobi’s Central Business District turned chaotic on Monday, September 7, 2026, after police arrested comedian-turned-activist Eric Omondi during a high-profile signature-gathering drive near the iconic Kenya National Archives.
Handcuffed and led away by officers, Omondi was in the middle of rallying citizens for his bold initiative aimed at slashing Kenya’s counties from 47 down to just eight. The campaign, dubbed Punguza Mzigo, seeks to overhaul the country’s current governance model by reverting to regional boundaries modeled after Kenya’s former eight provinces. Read Full Article Here
Despite the abrupt police intervention, the fiery activist remained resolute, urging Kenyans to keep backing the movement. Omondi revealed that his team had already secured over 430,000 signatures toward the official threshold required to trigger a constitutional referendum.
”We are going to reduce the counties from 47 to eight. It will happen,” Omondi declared prior to his arrest, emphasizing his plan to set up camp at the Archives throughout the week to hit the one-million-signature target.
Slashing the Cost of Governance
Omondi’s proposed reform targets the heavy public spending tied to Kenya’s expanded political structure. Beyond reducing county governments, the initiative calls for the complete abolition of several political offices, including Senators, Woman Representatives, and nominated members of parliament.
According to the campaigner, removing these redundant seats and administrative overlaps would liberate billions of shillings in taxpayer funds. He argues that these savings could directly fund critical public services, particularly education, infrastructure, and job creation initiatives for ordinary citizens.
A Growing Pattern of Activism
This latest police encounter marks another chapter in Omondi’s shift from mainstream entertainment to political activism. The comedian has previously been detained for organizing public demonstrations against the rising cost of living, high taxation, and youth unemployment.
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While critics question the feasibility of collapsing devolved units and the potential impact on local representation, Omondi’s crusade has sparked widespread public debate. Attention now turns to the law enforcement response and whether his campaign can maintain momentum toward gathering the required signatures.
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