Tension is growing in Kasipul Constituency ahead of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party nominations, with several aspirants accusing the party of keeping them in the dark and plotting to favour a preferred candidate.
On Monday, September 22, 2025, a group of aspirants said the party’s failure to give clear information about the process was a red flag.
They warned that attempts to influence the outcome of the primaries would be met with strong resistance from residents.
“If it were going to be a free and fair nomination, by now we would have already known who is going to stand in for this election, but to date, we have only four days, and we don’t know who is going to stand for this nomination,” one of the aspirants said.
“That is why I am sending messages. If you are planning to steal our votes, try somewhere else, not Kasipul, or else we are going to refuse and tell you the party does not belong to you.”
The politicians complained that ODM had not disclosed who the returning officer would be or the location of the tallying centre. They claimed that only one candidate had been briefed on the arrangements, leaving others sidelined.
“We talk about democracy, and the democracy we have on the national level must be seen at the constituency level too,” one of them argued. “Should anything happen that the will of the people will be twisted in the interest of one candidate, who we already know, for the purpose of the leaders of the county who have self-interest in the constituency, then ODM will lose.”
The seat fell vacant after the killing of MP Charles Ong’ondo Were in Nairobi on April 30, 2025. His death opened a heated contest, with his son Boyd Were emerging as a front-runner.
Earlier this month, President William Ruto’s aide, Farouk Kibet, openly endorsed Boyd Were, son of the late Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were, during a fundraiser at Ogande Girls Library in Homa Bay County. Kibet described the young man as capable and worthy of succeeding his father, calling on ODM supporters to rally behind him.
“People here in Homabay say this young man is enough or not enough. He is enough to get the seat there. Let him continue. Where are the ululations of this young man? And the party is ODM. Isn’t it? Let us all say we are all ODM. Let him continue. Thank you,” Kibet told the gathering.
The event was attended by Ida Odinga, wife of ODM leader Raila Odinga, and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, giving further weight to the endorsement.
Since then, more leaders, including Kipkelion West MP Hilary Kosgei and Lamu Woman Representative Muthoni Murabu, have voiced their support for Boyd’s candidature.
