By John Mutiso
Siaya County Governor James Orengo has strongly condemned the violence that marred Thursday’s by-elections across the country, comparing the current state of Kenya’s electoral process to the infamous Mlolongo system.
In a statement on Thursday, November 27, Orengo expressed deep concern over the militarization of the electoral process and the use of goons to intimidate voters and candidates.
“We can’t be first world if, years after Constitution 2010, we can’t hold peaceful and fair elections. The militarization and ‘goonification’ of elections is an evil worse than ‘mlolongo’.’
“The East African neighborhood is becoming (or has been) extremely intolerant and despotic,” Orengo stated.
The Governor’s remarks came as multiple incidents of violence were reported across various constituencies holding by-elections.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna echoed Orengo’s sentiments, describing Thursday as one of the bloodiest election days in recent history. He placed the blame squarely on the security command for failing to protect voters and candidates.
“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,” Sifuna said.
The Senator called on Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to take responsibility for the chaos.
“Murkomen and his team must take responsibility for failing to secure the safety of all involved,” he stated.
The by-elections were characterized by numerous violent incidents across the country. In Magarini, Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga was chased from a polling station by angry locals who accused him of voter bribery.
In Kasipul, Homa Bay County, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma was attacked at the Agoro Sare polling centre while accompanying ODM candidate Boyd Were. The lawmaker sustained head injuries and his bodyguard reportedly lost his firearm during the melee. Kaluma blamed Independent Candidate Philip Aroko’s supporters for the violence.
At the Siakago Social Hall in Mbeere North, former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi clashed with UDA aspirant Leonard Wa Muthende’s agent, Thuku Kiruga, over the wearing of a yellow jacket. The confrontation resulted in Kiruga being forcibly ejected from the hall.
In Malava constituency, DAP-K candidate Seth Panyako was arrested and held at Malava police station. His party condemned the arrest as intimidation, claiming goons under police supervision had terrorized the candidate throughout the night, injured party agents, and destroyed property.
