Homa Bay MP Peter Kaluma speaking after he was attacked in Kasipul on November 27, 2025./ROBERT OMOLLO
The Independent Electoral & Boundary Commission (IEBC) has stopped candidates and their supporters from visiting polling stations in the guise of protecting votes.
The Kasipul IEBC returning officer, Rebecca Abwakhu, barred politicians from visiting polling stations in the constituency to avert violence in the ongoing by-election.
The directive comes after Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma was assaulted and his bodyguard snatched a pistol during fracas at Agoro Sare polling station.
Kaluma who is reported to have been an agent of ODM candidate Boyd Were in the election said he was attacked by goons link to Philip Aroko. Aroko is seeking the seat on Independent ticket.
"Due to possible chaos, we have stopped all candidates and their supporters from walking from one polling station to another. We have adequate police to provide security," Abwakhu said.
Homa Bay police commander Lawrence Koilem said they received the directive after Kaluma recorded a statement over his attack at Oyugis police station. In the report, Kaluma said he knows youths who attacked and took away a gun from his bodyguard.
"I know they are goons who have been hired from Nairobi and neighbouring counties. They attacked me when I was waiting Boyd Were whom I'm his agent," Kaluma said.
The MP called on the police to expedite investigations and arrest the youths and people behind them. Koilem said they have started pursuing youths who assaulted the legislator and ran away with a gun from his bodyguard.
"We're taking the matter very seriously and looking for the suspects after they disappeared. There should be peace," Koilem said.
The police officer said they are implementing the directive of the IEBC to stop chaos. Some residents are reportedly hovering around polling stations after voting in disguise of protecting their votes.
"The issue of casting vote and hoping from one station to another should stop. We want people to vote and go home because police are the only people allowed to provide security," he added.
Earlier eyewitnesses said the fracas started when Aroko arrived at the station to check on the progress of the exercise after casting his vote in Kachieng Primary School in East Kamagak Ward.
"Some youths confronted MP Kaluma asking what he was doing there because he is not a voter in Kasipul constituency. They pushed and assaulted him on the back of his head," an eyewitness said.
The MP was rushed to a hospital for medical attention later Aroko and Were are front runners in the by election.
Last week, the two were fined sh1million each for allegedly abetting violence during campaigns in the constituency.
Their violence caused deaths of two youths.
