Kasipul MP by-election candidates Boyd Were (ODM) and Philip Aroko (Independent) during the prress briefing by IEBC at Anniversary Towers on November 19, 2025./PHOTO: LEAH MUKANGAI
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has fined Kasipul by-election candidates Philip Aroko and Boyd Were Sh1 million each following deadly clashes that left two people dead and violations of the harmonised campaign schedule.
The electoral body said the penalties, which must be paid within 48 hours, are a direct response to the violence that has left the constituency “bleeding.”
On November 6, at least two people were killed in clashes between supporters of two Kasipul parliamentary by-election candidates during a political rally in the Opondo area, Central Kasipul Ward, Homa Bay County.
Several others sustained injuries as gunshots were reported during the confrontations, police said.
Kasipul MP by-election candidates Boyd Were (ODM) and Philip Aroko (Independent) during the prress briefing by IEBC at Anniversary Towers on November 19, 2025./PHOTO: LEAH MUKANGAI
County Police Commander Lawrance Koilem said the unrest followed an incident at Boyd Were’s campaign venue that led to panic and clashes.
“As Were went to report the incident at Oyugis Police Station, his supporters reacted, which resulted in the tragic death of two youths,” Koilem said.
The Kasipul parliamentary seat fell vacant following the murder of late MP Charles Ong’ondo Were, who was shot in Nairobi in April 2025 by unknown individuals.
In a firm statement issued after a disciplinary hearing, the IEBC accused both Aroko, an independent candidate, and Were of the ODM party, of disregarding the agreed campaign timetable—an action the commission says contributed to the fatal confrontation between rival groups.
The two aspirants have also signed an agreement with the election agency to ensure they will not violate the IEBC harmonised campaigns as the go about their campaigns ahead of the by-election set for November 27.
The committee placed responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the two candidates, saying their lack of discipline had inflamed tensions instead of guiding their supporters toward peaceful engagement.
Aroko received a formal warning demanding that he fully respect and comply with the IEBC’s harmonised schedule without any deviation.
A similarly stern warning was issued to Were, reminding him that the timetable had been jointly agreed upon by all candidates and must be adhered to without exception.
The commission condemned the chaos that resulted from the violations, noting that disrespect for the campaign schedule had directly escalated into the deadly violence witnessed in Kasipul.
The committee stressed that the by-election must proceed in a peaceful environment, free from intimidation and disruption.
Beyond the fines, the IEBC made it clear that the two candidates are now on their final warning.
The committee cautioned that any repeat of the offences would attract more severe penalties, including possible disqualification from the by-election. It warned that no candidate, regardless of political backing, would be exempt from the consequences of breaching electoral rules.
The violent confrontations have raised security concerns in the constituency, with residents and observers calling for stronger enforcement of campaign regulations.
The IEBC urged all political actors to exercise restraint, prioritize peace, and ensure that their supporters refrain from acts that could jeopardize the integrity of the electoral process.
As the by-election approaches, attention now shifts to whether Aroko and Were will comply with the strict directives to restore order and prevent further bloodshed in the tense constituency.
