Violent Confrontation at Polling Station

Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament, Peter Kaluma, sustained head injuries on Thursday, November 27, 2025, after being attacked by a group of youths during the Kasipul constituency by-election. The incident occurred at Agoro Sare Primary School polling station, where Mr. Kaluma was serving as the chief agent for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party. According to multiple media reports, the assault took place as he was monitoring the voting process. During the chaos, Mr. Kaluma's bodyguard was also assaulted and his firearm was stolen.

Speaking to journalists shortly after receiving medical attention, Mr. Kaluma attributed the attack to his political opponents, specifically linking the assailants to independent candidate Philip Aroko. "I was carrying out my duties as a party agent when I was assaulted. Aroko is losing, and that is why his people are attacking me," Mr. Kaluma stated, as reported on Thursday. He called on his supporters to remain calm and refrain from retaliation. As of Thursday afternoon, Mr. Aroko had not publicly responded to the allegations.

A Campaign Marred by Deadly Clashes

The attack on the legislator is the latest in a series of violent events that have defined the Kasipul by-election. The campaign period has been fraught with tension, escalating into deadly confrontations between rival political camps. On Thursday, November 7, 2025, two people were killed and several others injured following violent clashes between supporters of ODM candidate Boyd Were and independent candidate Philip Aroko in the Opondo area of Central Kasipul Ward. Homa Bay County Police Commander Lawrance Koilem confirmed the fatalities, stating that the deceased were both 26-year-old supporters of Mr. Aroko. The violence reportedly erupted after Mr. Aroko's convoy allegedly disrupted a campaign rally being addressed by Mr. Were.

In a separate incident just two weeks before the poll, on November 13, 2025, three police officers were seriously injured after being attacked by armed youths. The officers were reportedly pursuing murder suspects who had sought refuge at the home of the ODM candidate, Boyd Were, a claim Mr. Were denied. These events prompted repeated calls for peace from leaders, including Homa Bay Governor and ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga, who urged security agencies and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to take decisive action against perpetrators of violence.

High-Stakes Political Contest

The Kasipul parliamentary seat fell vacant following the murder of the late MP Charles Ong'ondo Were, who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Nairobi earlier this year. His death set the stage for a fiercely contested by-election. The late MP's son, Boyd Were, secured the ODM party ticket to succeed his father, a move that was not without controversy and was seen by some critics as favouritism by the party leadership.

The race has been primarily between ODM's Boyd Were and independent candidate Philip Aroko, whose candidacy has exposed divisions within the local political establishment. Homa Bay Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga publicly defied his party's position by endorsing Mr. Aroko, a move Mr. Kaluma had previously condemned. The contest is widely viewed as a significant test for ODM's influence in a region considered its stronghold and for the newly reconstituted IEBC's ability to manage a contentious election. Security was heightened across the constituency on polling day, with a heavy police presence at polling centres and major entry points to prevent further violence.