Philip Aroko Links Kasipul By-election Violence to Armed Groups Behind Homa Bay Unrest

Philip Aroko, a candidate for the Kasipul parliamentary seat, has accused armed groups involved in earlier political violence in Homa Bay of orchestrating unrest during the recent Kasipul by-election.

In a Facebook post dated August 25, Aroko claimed the same network responsible for past attacks resurfaced to disrupt the electoral process. He directly implicated Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, alleging she instructed the sitting Kasipul MP to use force, stating that "politics is not a church." Aroko interpreted this as a signal to employ violence.

Among the incidents Aroko highlighted were attacks on police officers, the killing of two youths in North Kamagak, destruction of his personal vehicles, and the assault of a Deputy County Intelligence Officer, whose suspects were allegedly freed during the chaos. He also noted that women had been assaulted in earlier by-election violence involving the same group.

Another MP aspirant, Newton Ogada, separately accused Governor Wanga of funding attackers who vandalized his hospital and vehicles. Ogada requested that Wanga refrain from attending his late son's burial, citing the trauma caused by the violence. His son, a Kenya Defence Forces officer, recently died in a hit-and-run accident.

Aroko concluded his statement by urging supporters to reject violence and pursue votes through peaceful means, expressing commitment to President William Ruto's camp. He said, "We must stand up against all nonsense. We must look for votes to help the president, not through violence. God bless Kasipul. Sisi hatuogopi."

Neither Governor Wanga nor the Kasipul MP has responded to these latest allegations. The unrest in Homa Bay earlier this year resulted in four deaths, over 30 injuries, and several vehicles being set ablaze.