Leading contenders in the Kasipul parliamentary by-election, Philip Aroko and Boyd Were, have signed an agreement committing themselves to strictly adhere to the harmonised campaign schedule.
The deal was reached shortly after the two were fined Sh1 million each, penalties the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) said were necessitated by deadly clashes that have rocked the constituency and were directly linked to violations of the agreed campaign timetable.
According to IEBC, the fines, payable within 48 hours, are intended to restore order and accountability in a constituency the commission said has been “bleeding” from escalating violence.
The IEBC’s Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee accused both Aroko, an Independent candidate, and Were, the ODM candidate, of disregarding the campaign schedule mutually agreed upon during a meeting attended by all contestants.
The commission said the failure by the two leading candidates to respect the timetable created opportunities for rival groups to meet at the same venues, sparking confrontations that turned fatal.
The committee placed responsibility squarely on the candidates, arguing that their lack of discipline and failure to guide their supporters heightened tensions instead of promoting peaceful political engagement.
The developments come after the IEBC on Friday summoned the two aspirants as violence in Kasipul threatened to derail the long-awaited by-election.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon confirmed that the hearings began on November 17 and warned that the Commission would not hesitate to disqualify candidates who fail to meet the requirements of the electoral code.
Disqualifications, he noted, remained a real possibility depending on the conclusions of the hearings.
Such a move would complicate the by-election, which was triggered by the brutal murder of the area MP Charles Ong’ondo Were, who was attacked in broad daylight by unknown assailants.
Tensions in the constituency escalated after two people were killed and several others injured in confrontations between supporters of the two factions.
The violence erupted when suspected goons descended on a campaign event hosted by Were in Opondo, Central Kasipul.
The attack left members of his security team with serious injuries, while several residents were wounded in the ensuing chaos.
Were said the rally had begun peacefully before being disrupted by what he alleged were hired goons sent by his rival.
Aroko’s camp has denied the allegations, with both sides trading blame over who is responsible for the unrest.
IEBC has condemned the spiralling violence and warned that both candidates and their parties would face disqualification if the clashes persist.
The commission reminded the contenders that adherence to the harmonised schedule is mandatory and that failure to comply undermines the integrity of the electoral process.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has assured the public that investigations into the violence will be conducted swiftly, promising that perpetrators, regardless of political affiliation, will face the full force of the law.
With both candidates having now signed the commitment to follow the harmonised campaign programme, the commission hopes tensions will ease and the remainder of the campaign period will proceed peacefully.
However, IEBC maintains that it will closely monitor compliance and take decisive action against any further violations.
