IEBC Disciplinary Committee chairperson Alutalala Mukhwana./IEBC
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has slapped a fine of Sh1 million each on two Kasipul parliamentary by-election candidates for violating the Electoral Code of Conduct.
In a ruling delivered Wednesday, IEBC Disciplinary Committee chairperson Alutalala Mukhwana said independent candidate Philip Aroko and Boyd Were of ODM must pay the fines within 48 hours from the time of the decision.
Mukhwana said investigations by the Commission had established that the two candidates were responsible for the violent confrontations witnessed in Kasipul recently that resulted in deaths and destruction of property.
“Our finding as the committee is that, based on both oral and written submissions presented before us, the two candidates are in violation of Paragraph 6 (a, b, c, e, i, k, m and n) of the Electoral Code of Conduct,” he said.
He noted that the violence stemmed from the candidates’ disregard of the harmonised campaign schedule issued by IEBC and agreed upon by all aspirants on October 10, 2025.
“This committee cannot emphasise enough that it is the blatant disrespect of the harmonised campaign schedule that led to the violence and the loss of innocent lives,” Mukhwana said.
The committee issued a stern warning to both Aroko and Were, directing them to strictly adhere to the IEBC campaign programme going forward, without any deviation.
“For these violations, Philip Aroko is hereby ordered to pay a fine of Sh1million to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission within 48 hours. Boyd Were shall equally pay Sh1 million within the same period,” he ruled.
He added that any further breach of the Electoral Code of Conduct by either candidate would attract full penalties under the law, including potential disqualification from participating in the November 27 by-election.
As part of the disciplinary measures, the committee ordered both candidates to immediately sign the Political Decency Charter before the Commission and the media.
“Both candidates shall publicly declare their commitment to uphold peace and tolerance in their campaigns, with a clear undertaking that any reneging on this commitment shall constitute a fresh violation of the Code of Conduct,” Mukhwana directed.
He urged the two candidates to take personal responsibility for ensuring that their supporters conduct themselves peacefully, warning that IEBC will not tolerate any further acts of violence as the by-election approaches.
