Tension gripped Central Kasipul on Thursday afternoon after Boyd Were, the ODM parliamentary candidate and son of the late MP Ong’ondo Were, was attacked during a campaign rally by suspected hired goons.
The violent incident, which occurred in Opondo, left several people nursing injuries, including members of Were’s security team, who sustained critical wounds. Several locals were also caught up in the melee as chaos erupted at the political gathering.
Confirming the incident, Boyd recounted that the event had started peacefully before turning chaotic when a group of unidentified men stormed the venue. He claimed the attackers were hired by one of his political rivals to disrupt his campaign activities.
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“Within minutes, they stormed the venue, alighted from their vehicles, and directed unprovoked attacks toward us. Sadly, gunshots were heard, disrupting the peace that had initially prevailed,” Boyd narrated.
Witnesses said the attackers caused extensive damage to property, including the destruction of a public address system set up for the event. The chaos quickly spread to Nyalenda, where Boyd had planned another meeting with voters.
According to the ODM candidate, the same group of attackers followed his team to Nyalenda, where they vandalized campaign materials and destroyed tents and chairs that had been set up. During the second wave of attacks, two motorcycles were burnt, forcing residents to flee for safety.
“Later in the evening, my close associate and team member, Jim, was attacked on his way home. He sustained a deep cut on his forehead after being assaulted with a machete by individuals well known to him,” Boyd added.
However, the confrontation has sparked a war of words between rival camps. Boyd’s main opponent, Philip Aroko, has denied involvement in the attack and instead accused Boyd’s own security detail of instigating the violence.
According to Aroko, one person was allegedly killed and several others injured during the clashes, which he claimed were provoked by Boyd’s supporters.
“This nonsense of killing constituents must stop in this by-election. You cannot kill my people and get away with it,” Aroko said, calling for calm and urging leaders to uphold peace as campaigns continue ahead of the by-election.
The incident has heightened political tension in Kasipul, with local authorities and security agencies under pressure to investigate the clashes and ensure that peace is restored ahead of the polls.