Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has condemned the violence reported during Thursday’s by-elections, describing the day as among the worst in recent years.
In a statement, Sifuna accused the security command of failing to protect voters, candidates, and election officials, saying the chaos witnessed in Kabuchai, Malava, and Kasipul pointed to serious lapses.
“Today has to be one of the bloodiest election days in recent history. All the violence being witnessed across the country, from Kabuchai to Malava to Kasipul, points either to incompetence within the security command or to their outright involvement in planning and executing it. Murkomen and his team must take responsibility for failing to secure the safety of all involved,” he stated, referring to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.
Also Read
In Kasipul, tension erupted at the Agoro Sare polling centre after Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma was attacked while accompanying ODM candidate Boyd Were.
Reports indicate a group of goons confronted Kaluma shortly after his arrival, during which his bodyguard reportedly lost his firearm. Kaluma was bleeding from the head and chest as he was escorted away.
He directly blamed Independent Candidate Philip Aroko for the violence, accusing his supporters of attempting to intimidate voters and disrupt the polling process.
“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.
In Malava, DAP-K candidate Seth Panyako claimed he was attacked by goons at Down Hill Hotel, where he was with his family. He described the alleged assault as an attempt on his life, adding that it was politically motivated, as a private poll had placed him significantly ahead of his competitor.
DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa accused the National Police Service (NPS) and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of facilitating the attack, alleging a coordinated effort by the government to disrupt the election process.
The incidents in the three constituencies have reignited concerns over election security, state interference, and rising political tensions ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
Sifuna’s remarks add to growing calls for accountability and stronger protections for voters and candidates in future polls.