It was meant to be a day of democratic duty, but for Chwele-Kabuchai MCA Eric Wekesa, it turned into a desperate sprint for survival. The politician has broken his silence on a harrowing election day ordeal where he narrowly escaped a machete-wielding mob that left his bodyguard fighting for his life.

The attack, which occurred during the heated by-election to replace the late James Mukhongo, highlights the volatile underbelly of local politics. Wekesa, an Independent candidate in a FORD-Kenya stronghold, described the ambush as a calculated assassination attempt, orchestrated to intimidate his supporters and eliminate him from the race.

"They Wanted Blood"

"I left my home at 6 a.m., ready to vote at Busakala Primary," Wekesa recalled, his voice trembling with the memory. "I had intelligence that tension was high, but I never imagined they would come for me with pangas in broad daylight." He described being cornered by a gang baying for blood. While Wekesa managed to outrun the attackers, his bodyguard was not as fortunate, tripping and falling into the hands of the mob.

• The Ambush: Wekesa was intercepted en route to the polling station by armed goons.
• The Victim: His bodyguard sustained critical panga cuts after being overwhelmed by the attackers.
• The Context: The seat fell vacant after the death of James Mukhongo, leading to a high-stakes contest that had already claimed three lives.

Politics of the Panga

The incident in Bungoma County is a stark reminder that for many Kenyan politicians, the ballot box is often guarded by the blade. As Wekesa recovers from the trauma, the question remains: will the perpetrators be brought to book, or will this just be another statistic in the bloody history of by-elections?

"I survived by the grace of God," Wekesa concluded. "But my bodyguard paid the price for my safety."