The Kasipul by-election has concluded with Boyd Were Ongondo of ODM Party emerging victorious.
The announcement was made at the constituency tallying centre on Friday, November 28, bringing the tightly watched race to an end.
Were clinched the seat after outperforming Independent candidate Philip Aroko, who had mounted a strong campaign throughout the contest.
The victory now hands Were the mandate to represent the people of Kasipul in the National Assembly before the 2027 General Election.
According to the IEBC, Were won the by-election with a total of 16,819 votes, defeating Were, who garnered 8,476 votes.
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"The Kasipul Constituency By-Election Returning Officer, Rebecca Abwaku, declared Boyd Ongondo Were of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party the duly elected Member of National Assembly (MNA) for Kasipul Constituency after garnering 16,819 votes.
"Philip Nashon Aroko, an Independent candidate, finished second after securing 8,476 votes. A total of 10 candidates had been cleared to contest in the Kasipul MNA," the IEBC announced.
Voting was calm in Kasipul, but tension erupted at the Agoro Sare polling centre in Kasipul after Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma was attacked while accompanying ODM candidate Boyd Were.
According to media reports, chaos broke out when a group of goons confronted the MP shortly after his arrival.
In the melee, Kaluma’s bodyguard reportedly lost his firearm, adding to the gravity of the incident.
The lawmaker was bleeding from the head, with blood stains visible on his neck and chest as he was escorted away from the scene.
Kaluma directly blamed Independent Candidate Philip Aroko for the violence, accusing his supporters of attempting to intimidate voters and disrupt the polling process.
Speaking after the attack, the lawmaker said the attackers were attempting to provoke a fight, and he insisted that their aim was to prevent residents from casting their ballots.
"They are small people; we would have fought them back, but don’t fight them because that is what they want. They don’t want people to come to vote," he said.
Kaluma had earlier warned of rising hostility in the constituency, describing the situation as driven by external forces and cautioning voters not to be deterred.
"The violence that has been associated with Kasipul is imported violence. For the party I am observing, we want people to turn out, and we know any tension would work against us by suppressing the votes. I urge everyone to come out and vote. There will be no interference," he said.
