Property of unknown value was destroyed on Tuesday, November 4, after goons raided and vandalized an entertainment joint belonging to Kabuchai Member of Parliament Majimbo Kalasinga.
The attack, which occurred around midday, saw the assailants invade the business premises, smashing windows, stealing money and alcohol, and consuming some of the drinks on site before fleeing the scene.
According to employees working at the establishment, the raid is believed to be linked to the MP’s recent public statements regarding the upcoming Member of County Assembly (MCA) by-election scheduled for later this month.
“They stole the pool and the money, they stole the TV, they stole my business stock. They were throwing stones and there were so many. But at least nobody was injured,” one employee told reporters at the scene.
Staff members at the establishment expressed frustration over the delayed response from security agencies during the attack, despite attempts to alert local police.
“Security agencies need to up their game. When this happened, I called the OCS, and he said he was not at the police station. And the officers had been deployed to supervise the ongoing national exams,” another employee stated.
The vandalism comes amid heightened political tensions in Kabuchai constituency ahead of the Chwele ward by-election, which was necessitated by the death of Chwele-Kabuchai MCA James Mukhongo Barasa in August 2025 after a battle with cancer.
MP Kalasinga has been at the center of political realignments in the area, having reportedly fallen out with his party leader, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula of Ford Kenya.
In early October, Kalasinga joined forces with former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati to support independent candidate Erick Wekesa against Ford Kenya’s nominee in the by-election.
The two leaders, both former allies of Wetang’ula, have vowed to unite their supporters to challenge the Speaker’s influence in Bungoma County.
During the submission of nomination papers to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the two leaders called on residents to rally behind their candidate to diminish Wetang’ula’s political dominance in the region.
The IEBC is scheduled to hold by-elections across the country on Thursday, November 27, 2025, covering a total of 17 ward seats for Members of the County Assembly.
The contested wards include Chewani in Tana River, Fafi in Garissa, Mumbuni North in Machakos, Lake Zone and Nanaam in Turkana, Angata Nanyokie in Samburu, Chemundu in Nandi, Narok Town in Narok, Purko in Kajiado, Kisa East in Kakamega, Nyamaiya, Ekerenyo, and Nyanisongo in Nyamira, Kariobangi North in Nairobi, and Kabuchai in Bungoma.
Beyond the MCA positions, IEBC will also conduct by-elections for the Member of Senate seat for Baringo County and six National Assembly seats for Banissa, Kasipul, Magarini, Malava, Mbeere North, and Ugunja constituencies.
