OYUGIS, HOMA BAY COUNTY – Polling stations across Kasipul constituency opened at 6:00 a.m. EAT on Thursday, November 27, 2025, under a significant security presence as 67,513 registered voters began casting their ballots for a new Member of Parliament. The by-election was necessitated by the fatal shooting of the area's MP, Charles Ong'ondo Were, in Nairobi on April 30, 2025, an act investigators have described as a targeted assassination.

The campaign period has been marred by violent clashes, raising fears of widespread chaos on polling day. In response, the National Police Service (NPS) and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) have mounted a large-scale security operation. Homa Bay County Police Commander, Dr. Hassan Omar, confirmed that over 500 police officers, including personnel from the General Service Unit (GSU) and the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU), have been deployed to secure the 142 polling stations across the constituency's five wards. "Our mandate is to ensure every voter feels safe to exercise their democratic right. We will not tolerate any form of intimidation or violence," Dr. Omar stated in a press briefing on Wednesday in Oyugis, the main town in Kasipul.

A History of Violence

The heavy security deployment follows a volatile campaign period that culminated in deadly violence. On November 6, 2025, clashes between supporters of the two main candidates left two people dead and several others injured. This incident prompted the IEBC's Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee to fine the frontrunners, Boyd Were of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and independent candidate Philip Aroko, KSh1 million each for failing to control their supporters. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, speaking in Kasipul on Wednesday, issued a stern warning against the use of hired goons, stating, "The government has provided sufficient security... We are prepared to arrest all goons, all criminals and all persons that are intending to disrupt peaceful elections."

The murder of the late MP has cast a long shadow over the election. Mr. Were's death is not an isolated incident in the constituency's history; in 2005, then-MP Peter Owidi died under circumstances his family alleged to be poisoning. This history has deepened anxieties among residents and observers about the potential for violence to influence political outcomes.

High-Stakes Political Contest

Ten candidates were cleared by the IEBC to contest the seat, but the race is widely seen as a two-horse race between ODM's Boyd Were and the independent Philip Aroko. The by-election is a critical test for the ODM party's dominance in its traditional Nyanza stronghold. Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and other senior ODM figures have campaigned vigorously for Mr. Were. Conversely, Mr. Aroko has garnered support from a section of local leaders, including Homa Bay Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga and former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, creating a fierce local rivalry.

The IEBC has assured residents of its preparedness to deliver a free, fair, and transparent election. The commission's chairperson, Erastus Ethekon, confirmed on Wednesday that all election materials and personnel were dispatched on time. "We have involved all security agencies... Voters are assured of a secure and peaceful environment," an IEBC statement read, adding that polling stations would close at 5:00 p.m., with anyone in the queue by that time allowed to vote.

As voting proceeds, the focus for security forces and election officials will be on preventing further violence, ensuring the integrity of the ballot, and managing the tensions that are expected to rise during the counting and tallying process. The outcome of this election will not only determine the next leader for Kasipul but will also serve as a barometer for the political climate and the state of electoral security in Kenya.