IEBC Fines Kasipul By-Election Candidates Sh1m Each After Deadly Clashes Leave Two Dead
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has imposed hefty fines on Kasipul parliamentary by-election candidates Philip Aroko and Boyd Were, holding them responsible for violent confrontations that resulted in the deaths of two young men and left several others injured.
The electoral body announced on Tuesday that both candidates would be required to pay Sh1 million each within 48 hours for breaching campaign regulations and escalating tensions during rival rallies in Central Kasipul Ward, Homa Bay County, on November 6.
The clashes, described by authorities as “chaotic and avoidable,” erupted when supporters of the two candidates confronted each other at overlapping campaign events. According to police, gunshots were reported during the melee, prompting a wider investigation into a licensed firearm holder who allegedly fired twice into the air as tempers flared.
Homa Bay County Police Commander Lawrance Koilem said panic among supporters was triggered after an incident at ODM candidate Boyd Were’s campaign venue.
“As Were went to report the incident at Oyugis Police Station, his supporters reacted, which resulted in the tragic death of two youths,” Koilem told reporters, adding that security agencies were pursuing several leads to determine responsibility for the shootings.
The Kasipul parliamentary seat fell vacant following the April 2025 killing of MP Charles Ong’ondo Were, who was murdered in Nairobi. The by-election—set for November 27—has since attracted heightened political interest, raising concerns about rising hostility between rival camps.
During a disciplinary session convened after the fatal clashes, the IEBC found that both Aroko, who is running as an independent, and Were, the ODM flagbearer, had violated the harmonised campaign schedule, creating a volatile environment that allowed supporters from both sides to converge and confront each other.
In a statement, the commission criticised the candidates for failing to exercise control and leadership during the campaign period.
“The lack of discipline by the candidates inflamed tensions instead of guiding their supporters toward peaceful engagement,” the IEBC said. It further issued stern warnings to the two contenders, directing them to strictly adhere to the agreed timetable for all remaining campaign activities.
The commission also cautioned that any repeat of the offences could lead to stiffer sanctions, including disqualification from the by-election.
With less than two weeks to the poll, the IEBC has appealed to all political actors and supporters in Kasipul to exercise restraint, emphasising the need to protect the integrity of the electoral process.
“The commission urges all candidates to conduct themselves responsibly and ensure their campaigns proceed in a peaceful manner,” the statement added.
As authorities tighten security and monitor political activity closely, the constituency remains tense, with observers watching to see whether Aroko and Were will comply with the directives aimed at averting further violence ahead of the vote.
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IEBC Fines Kasipul By-Election Candidates Sh1m Each After Deadly Clashes Leave Two Dead