Boyd Were has decisively won the Kasipul parliamentary seat, inheriting the political mantle of his slain father in a high-stakes by-election that reaffirms the Orange Democratic Movement's (ODM) grip on its political heartland.

The victory is a deeply personal and political moment for the Were family and ODM, coming just months after the brazen assassination of the former MP, Charles Ong'ondo Were, in Nairobi. For the people of Kasipul, it marks the beginning of a new chapter under a familiar name, but one shadowed by the violent events that necessitated Thursday's vote.

According to the final tally announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Were garnered 16,819 votes. He comfortably defeated his main challenger, independent candidate Philip Aroko, who secured 8,476 votes. The results were officially declared by Returning Officer Rebecca Abwaku in the early hours of Friday morning.

A Victory Forged in Grief

The by-election was triggered by the fatal shooting of Charles Ong'ondo Were on April 30, 2025. The second-term MP was killed by gunmen on a motorcycle while stopped in traffic along Ngong Road in Nairobi, in what police described as a "targeted and premeditated" attack. An autopsy later revealed he had been shot five times. Boyd, his 27-year-old son, stepped into the political arena, vowing to continue his father's legacy and securing the ODM ticket in party primaries held in September.

Violence Mars Polling Day

Despite the decisive outcome, voting day was not without incident. Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, serving as ODM's chief agent, was injured in a violent confrontation at the Agoro Sare Primary School polling station. Kaluma alleged that supporters of his opponent orchestrated the assault, during which his bodyguard's firearm was also reported stolen. Boyd Were condemned the attack, urging police to hold the perpetrators accountable to protect the poll's credibility. The campaign period leading up to the vote had also been tense, with several violent incidents reported, prompting ODM to call for enhanced security.

The final results are as follows:

• Boyd Were (ODM): 16,819 votes
• Philip Aroko (Independent): 8,476 votes

With this victory, Were now faces the challenge of uniting a constituency rocked by his father's murder and a divisive campaign. His immediate task will be to translate his electoral mandate into tangible development for the people of Kasipul, even as the quest for justice for his father continues.