By John Mutiso
Tension erupted at the Agoro Sare polling centre in Kasipul on Thursday, November 27, after Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma was attacked while accompanying ODM candidate Boyd Were.Â
According to media reports, chaos broke out when a group of goons confronted the MP shortly after his arrival.
In the melee, Kaluma’s bodyguard reportedly lost his firearm, adding to the gravity of the incident.
The lawmaker was bleeding from the head, with blood stains visible on his neck and chest as he was escorted away from the scene.
Kaluma directly blamed Independent Candidate Philip Aroko for the violence, accusing his supporters of attempting to intimidate voters and disrupt the polling process.
Speaking after the attack, the lawmaker said the attackers were attempting to provoke a fight, and he insisted that their aim was to prevent residents from casting their ballots.
“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.
Kaluma had earlier warned of rising hostility in the constituency, describing the situation as driven by external forces and cautioning voters not to be deterred.
“The violence that has been associated with Kasipul is imported violence. For the party I am observing, we want people to turn out, and we know any tension would work against us by suppressing the votes. I urge everyone to come out and vote. There will be no interference,” he said.
Elsewhere, tensions ran high in Malava on Thursday as voters headed to the polls, with accusations of violence and provocation emerging from the campaign trail.
Speaking after casting his vote, UDA candidate David Ndakwa said he has deliberately maintained calm despite alleged persistent hostility from rival camps.
He said he has endured repeated provocation from his opponents throughout the campaign period and even on election day, but has deliberately chosen not to respond.
“Mostly, there has been a lot of abuses from my opponents, there has been a lot of fights on the side of my opponents, even up to this time, but I’ve restrained myself. They have done all sorts of abuses to me, I’ve not even tried to reply back.
“They’ve done attacks on my colleagues, even MCAs, Members of Parliament, but I’ve asked them not to retaliate because this is an election that I’m winning,” he said.
Ndakwa noted that his decision to stay calm is driven by a commitment to demonstrate leadership and protect residents from unnecessary confrontation.
“I have to show some exemplary leadership by getting humility first as a character, because I don’t have to let the people bleed for me to lead. That is why I’ve restrained myself, I’ve been provoked a lot, but for me, I’ve been for peace all through.
