HOMA BAY, Kenya - Voting in the hotly contested Kasipul Constituency by-election was marred by violence on Thursday, November 27, 2025, when Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament, Peter Kaluma, was assaulted while monitoring the polls. The incident, which left the legislator with head injuries and resulted in the disappearance of his bodyguard's firearm, has intensified scrutiny of a campaign period already tainted by politically motivated violence and deaths.

Mr. Kaluma, serving as the chief agent for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, was attacked by a group of youths at Agoro Sare Primary School polling station. Speaking to journalists after receiving medical attention, Kaluma attributed the assault to supporters of his political rival, independent candidate Philip Aroko. “Aroko is losing, and that is why his people are attacking me. We will not respond because that is what they want. I call on our supporters to remain calm and avoid retaliation,” he stated. The National Police Service has launched an investigation into both the assault and the critical loss of the service weapon.

Attempts by Streamline News to reach Mr. Aroko or his campaign secretariat for a response to the allegations were unsuccessful by the time of publication.

A History of Violence

This by-election was necessitated by the assassination of the constituency's former MP, Charles Ong'ondo Were, who was fatally shot by gunmen on a motorcycle in Nairobi on April 30, 2025. The murder created a power vacuum that has led to a tense and violent campaign period, reflecting deep-rooted local rivalries.

The period leading up to the poll has been exceptionally turbulent. On November 7, 2025, violent clashes between supporters of the main candidates resulted in the deaths of two young men, Ben Ondiege and Bruno Onyango, both reportedly supporters of Mr. Aroko. This incident prompted swift condemnation from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). In a statement on November 7, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon decried the “senseless acts of hooliganism” and warned that candidates found in violation of the Electoral Code of Conduct could face severe penalties, including disqualification.

Following the deadly clashes, the IEBC’s Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee took punitive action. On November 19, 2025, the committee fined both the ODM candidate, Boyd Were (son of the late MP), and Philip Aroko KSh 1 million each for their failure to control their supporters and adhere to the agreed-upon campaign schedule. The commission also flagged alleged interference and use of public resources by the Homa Bay County Government in the campaigns, an action it condemned as a contravention of the Elections Offences Act.

National Implications and Security Concerns

The persistent violence in Kasipul has become a critical test for Kenya’s electoral and security institutions. Despite assurances from Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja of heightened security measures, the assault on a sitting Member of Parliament during polling hours raises serious questions about the effectiveness of these deployments.

The events in Kasipul are not isolated. They reflect a broader, troubling pattern of violence in Kenyan by-elections, which often serve as high-stakes dress rehearsals for general elections. Political analysts argue that the inability to guarantee security and enforce the electoral code of conduct in a single constituency poll signals significant challenges for managing the larger, more complex national elections.

ODM, through a statement issued by its chairperson Gladys Wanga on November 7, condemned the escalating violence and called on security agencies to act decisively to arrest and prosecute perpetrators. As voting concluded and counting began under a heavy security presence on Thursday evening, the focus shifted to whether the IEBC and the police can secure the tallying process and prevent further escalations. The outcome of the investigations into the assault on MP Kaluma and the preceding deaths will be a key indicator of the state's commitment to ending the cycle of electoral impunity in Kenya.