Two young men were killed on Thursday, November 7, 2025, in Kasipul Constituency following violent clashes between rival political camps ahead of the contentious November 27 by-election. [6, 10, 11] The deceased, identified as supporters of independent aspirant Philip Aroko, died after a confrontation with followers of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate, Boyd Were, in Opondo village, Central Kasipul Ward. [6, 11]

The incident has ignited tensions in Homa Bay County, reviving concerns over political intolerance and the use of youth gangs in Kenyan elections. Homa Bay County Police Commander Lawrence Koilem confirmed that the two victims, both aged 26, were hacked to death. [6, 11] Several others sustained injuries during the melee. [25]

Accounts of the events leading to the deaths remain conflicting. According to Commander Koilem, the violence erupted when Mr. Aroko's campaign convoy arrived at a venue where Mr. Were was addressing a crowd. [6, 11] Police reports indicate that gunshots were heard from Aroko's team, which allegedly disrupted the meeting and sparked panic, leading to a deadly retaliation. [6, 25] Mr. Were's camp alleges that Aroko's supporters destroyed their equipment and attacked one of their team members. [10]

Conversely, Mr. Aroko has accused his opponent of orchestrating the violence, stating his supporters were ambushed by “hired goons.” [10] In a statement, Aroko mourned one of the victims, identified as Bruno Ondoro, and condemned the violence as a tactic of intimidation. [10, 29] The family of Ondoro, who had completed his secondary education in 2023, described him as a beacon of hope for their household. [29]

A History of Tensions

The by-election was called following the murder of the area's former Member of Parliament, Charles Ong'ondo Were, who was shot dead in Nairobi in April 2025. [13, 25] Boyd Were is the son of the late legislator. [16] Philip Aroko, a businessman with a history of legal controversies, was initially a person of interest in the murder investigation before being cleared and becoming a state witness. [7, 8, 16] His candidacy has created a fierce rivalry in a region long considered an ODM stronghold.

The violence has drawn widespread condemnation from national and local leaders. Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Senator Moses Kajwang', and the Homa Bay Interfaith Council have all called for peace and urged candidates to conduct their campaigns with restraint. [14, 20] Bishop Abrahams Odongo, the council's chairperson, decried the trend of politicians using youth to perpetrate violence. [15, 20] “We don't want women to become widows or children to be orphaned because of politics,” Bishop Odongo stated on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. [14]

Official Investigations and Further Violence

In response to the killings, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) issued a statement on Friday, November 7, 2025, condemning the “senseless acts of violence” and dispatched an investigation team to Kasipul. [13, 30] The commission warned that any candidate or party found to have violated the Electoral Code of Conduct risks disqualification. [13]

Security operations have intensified, but the situation remains volatile. In a dramatic turn of events on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, three Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers were seriously injured while attempting to arrest five murder suspects at the home of the late MP Ong'ondo Were. [28] According to Commander Koilem, a crowd of over 100 youths attacked the officers with crude weapons, allowing the five suspects to escape custody. [28] A manhunt for the escaped suspects is currently underway. [28]

The events in Kasipul reflect a broader national concern over rising political tensions. Reports from the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and human rights bodies have repeatedly warned of the re-emergence of organized gangs financed by politicians to intimidate opponents, a trend that has marred previous election cycles in Kenya. [12, 19, 26]