Residents line up to cast votes in Kasipul constituency on November 27, 2025./ROBERT OMOLLO
The voting process to elect a member of parliament for the Kasipul constituency is picking up as residents continue to turn up for the exercise.
The exercise started slowly with just a few people at various polling stations to cast their ballots and elect their new member of the National Assembly.
Voting started at 6am immediately after the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) open polling stations. A resident, Debra Kajo said there were a few number of people at the start due to daily and domestic activities.
Some residents had to go to the farm as others undertook household activities.
"Most women had to do domestic work first, while some men had to go to their farms. But turnout has gradually increase as time goes on," Kajo said.
Speaking after casting her ballot at Agoro Sare Primary School in Oyugis town, Kajo said some residents were also waiting for the daylight to cast their vote.
Kasipul is one of the constituencies where the government has deployed more security officers to avert possible violence.
During campaigns, Kasipul witnessed some violence where two youths were killed after fracas emerged between two front runners Boyd Were of ODM and Philip Aroko, who is seeking the seat as Independent candidate.
Residents had also been ordered to vote and leave the polling station.
"There are people who would want to vote later in the day with the mentality of staying around polling station to protect their votes.Some people didn't come early to vote due to fear of unknown despite assurance of security from the police," she said.
The race for Kasipul parliamentary seat has attracted 10 people including one female called Jasmin Linda of independent. Apart from Aroko and Were ,Robert Riaga ( Independent) is also seeking the seat. Other candidates include Abok Isaac Kiche of Kenya Moja Movement (KMM), Kotiende Sam Rateng Okoth of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and Omondi Collins Okeyo of Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG).
Koyoo Ishmael Omondi of National Liberal Party (NLP) Linda Aoko (Independent candidate) and Robert Ouko Ouma of Labour Party of Kenya (LPK) also participated in the race. According to the 2022 IEBC record, Kasipul has 67,513 registered voters with 142 polling stations.
The seat remained vacant after the death of Ongondo Were who was shot dead on April 30,2025 in Nairobi. Were was serving his second term after being elected on ODM ticket.
On Tuesday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen assured residents of peaceful excercise.
" The government has deployed adequate security personnel to ensure the excercise goes on smoothly and peacefully. Voters are required to cast their ballots and leave," Murkomen said.
