- The ODM head office has condemned the escalating violence in Kasipul ahead of the November 27 by-election, calling for the police to intervene quickly.
- Party chairman Gladys Wanga accused the opposition of planning attacks against supporters of ODM candidate Boyd Were and disrupting campaign events.
- The violence left two people dead and several others injured, fueling tensions between Boyd Were and independent candidate Philip Aroko.
- ODM called for calm and warned that ongoing unrest risks undermining free and fair elections in the volatile state
In a constituency that is already full of scars, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has condemned the ongoing violence in Kasipul ahead of the November 27 by-election.
Source: Facebook
The Orange Party condemned the violence, calling for the immediate intervention of security agencies to prevent further bloodshed.
What is ODM’s appeal about Kasipul violence?
In a statement issued on Friday, November 7, the National Chairman of ODM, Gladys Wangasaid the party was deeply saddened by the attack that disrupted the campaign event of its candidate, Boyd Were.
Wanga claimed that thugs linked to a rival candidate invaded a voter participation meeting, destroyed property, and endangered residents.
“This is not an isolated incident. During the recent Women’s Empowerment Program in Sikri, several vehicles of our candidate’s supporters were vandalized, and women who attended the event were harassed and injured,” he said.
ODM demanded the swift arrest and prosecution of those behind the riots, accusing the security agencies of failing to act decisively despite rising tensions in the area.
The party further urged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to ensure fair competition and a level playing field for all candidates.
The Homa Bay governor asked supporters to maintain peace and resist incitement, stressing that ODM remained committed to democratic values and peaceful campaigns. “We ask all candidates and our supporters to behave peacefully and refrain from provocative statements and actions that threaten peace during this campaign and beyond. ODM remains fully committed to peaceful campaigns and democratic values that respect the wishes of the people. We also ask our supporters to remain calm, peaceful, and adhere to our values of unity and democracy, even when provoked,” Starch said.
How did the Kasipul violence happen?
The latest violence has put Kasipul on edge as residents say the by-election, meant to fill a vacancy following the death of former MP Ong’ondo Were, has turned into a battleground between ODM and independent candidate Philip Aroko.
According to earlier reports, two men associated with the Aroko community mobilization team were attacked on Thursday, November 6, while traveling to a campaign event in Nyandiwa, West Kamagak County.
They were allegedly arrested by people associated with Boyd Were.
A short time later, a supporter of Boyd’s team was reportedly attacked by a mob reacting to the murder, furthering the chaos.
Aroko, who recorded a statement at the Oyugis Police Station, narrated the incident, telling officers that his convoy was attacked before reaching the campaign hall.
Videos posted by Aroko showed emotional scenes at the Rachuonyo County Hospital mortuary, where residents gathered to mourn one of the victims, identified as Bruno. The identity of the second victim was not yet confirmed.
In a social media post, Aroko blamed the attack on people linked to Boyd, accusing his rival of inciting violence to intimidate voters.
He compared Boyd to his late father, whose death in Nairobi several months ago remains a major stumbling block in local politics.
Source: Facebook
Boyd dismissed Aroko’s claims, saying his team was attacked, claiming the chaos started when shots were fired from Aroko’s group while he was meeting voters in Opondo, Kasipul Central Ward.
Boyd initially avoided commenting on the deaths but later offered his condolences to the families of the deceased, saying violence had no place in Kasipul politics.
Why are ODM determined to retain the Kasipul seat?
As reported earlier, the Kasipul by-election has turned into a major political test for the security agencies in Homa Bay county.
The stakes are unusually high as ODM is determined to retain the seat it has held for many years, while Aroko relies on the rebellion of the common people against the party’s rule.
The tension reflects a major political shift in Nyanza, where ODM’s once undisputed control has faced mounting challenges.
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