Women from Homa Bay County have threatened to rally their colleagues to boycott participating in the forthcoming by-election in Kasipul constituency.
The women said their colleagues in the constituency—where a parliamentary by-election is scheduled to take place on November 27—are facing violent acts.
Addressing the media when they staged demos at Rongo Nyagowa village in Karachuonyo, the group asked the government to protect women during the by-election campaigns.
Grace Owich (Karachuonyo), Sarah Adhiambo (Kendu Bay) and Damaris Achieng’ (Wangchieng) vowed not to allow the continued violence meted out on their colleagues during the ongoing campaigns.
"Violence on a woman in Kasipul is violence against women in Homa Bay. We're advising our colleagues in Kasipul to not participate in the by-election due to chaos against them," Achieng’ said.
Beatrice Owino, an aspirant in the race, was reportedly attacked twice by alleged goons in Sikri within the constituency.
It was alleged that youths who had been trailing Owino—who is the wife of the Homa Bay county clerk Hanington Abeka— deflated tyres and smashed windscreens of her car last Friday.
They hounded the primary school teacher out of the car before she escaped.
The same was repeated on Sunday when some youths confronted her in a salon in Oyugis town, forcing her to run and hide in a nearby building.
Achieng’ said such attacks have created fear among women in Kasipul and called on politicians to avoid violence and embrace peace.
"They create fear through violence. An election marred with violence is always not credible, " she said.
Owich urged the police to investigate and arrest the suspects, arguing that some politicians in Kasipul are using violence to determine the outcome of the election.
"Beatrice is not a politician for her to be targeted. Police should expedite investigations and bring people behind attacks on women to book," Owich said.
Adhiambo asked men to refrain from chauvinistic behaviour.
"It is high time men abandon behaviours that are retrogressive. Fighting women over politics is archaic," Adhiambo said.
Youth reiterated the call against violence.
Ken Obongo urged his colleagues in Kasipul not to allow themselves to be used by politicians who have lost direction.
He urged young people to channel their energy towards economic benefit.
"Hooliganism cannot help anyone who wants development. Youths shouldn't waste their time on issues which will land them in jail," Obongo said.
