IEBC to Summon Kasipul By-election Candidates Over Escalating Campaign Violence

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced plans to summon candidates participating in the Kasipul Constituency by-election following a series of violent incidents that have disrupted campaigns in the area.

On Friday, November 14, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon confirmed that the commission already has in place a Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee that will start summoning the candidates and other interested parties next Monday.

In an interview at a media conference, Ethekon indicated that the commission was speedy in responding to the reports that chaos and violence were being reported in the constituency.

He observed that an investigation team of the IEBC was sent as soon as the reports were raised and has since then conducted a thorough evaluation of the case. We know, on the matter of Kasipul, we know, and we have heard, there were instances of violence, Ethekon said.

As a commission, we immediately, on receiving the information of the situation, sent our investigations team to the ground.

They have made an end of their examination, and we have that report. Under the direction of the Kenyan laws, we have constituted the Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee, and this will start working on Monday to invite the candidates in Kasipul and any other person who may have any information as to what occurred.

The committee as proposed by the chairperson of the IEBC, will operate within very tight schedules to see the issue addressed within a short time, with the by-election date being a few days away, later on this month. The committee will conduct hearings, examine the evidence produced, and give recommendations as to the right course of action to be taken against the individual or candidate discovered to have contravened the electoral code of conduct.

They will hear it, and in the shortest time possible, we will decide on what must be done to correct the incidents in Kasipul, Ethekon assured. Ethekon also reiterated that the commission has adequate legal instruments and mechanisms of enforcing the code of conduct in elections. He claimed that any candidate convicted stands the risk of a heavy penalty, including penalties given under electoral provisions.

He added that there are various tools that they can use and can apply where it is deemed necessary, where candidates taking part in these by-elections have been found to be violating the electoral code of conduct. The intervention of the commission has been done in the context of increasing tensions in Kasipul after a series of violent clashes due to the increased political competition.

This is after two individuals were killed and several were injured after a faction of suspected attackers attacked a rally being addressed by ODM candidate Boyd Were in Central Kasipul earlier this week. The assault caused a wave of denunciations and instantly led to a rise in the political enmity in the constituency. After the incident, Boyd alleged to his primary opponent, Philip Aroko, that he had orchestrated the brutality to undermine his bid.

Aroko, however, disregarded the accusations and went to the extent of accusing Boyd of having a past of intimidation in his camp, shifting the blame back to his adversary. On November 12, the situation sparked once again as detectives of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) raided the home of Boyd during an operation against suspects who were involved in the killings. Police reports have it that officers who went to arrest five suspects were ambushed by a mob, causing chaotic scenes that left three officers injured.

The five suspects fled in the tussle, and this raised concern over rising lawlessness in the region.

The wounded DCI officers were hospitalized in Rachuonyo South Sub-County Hospital, where they were undergoing treatment, as police stepped up a manhunt on the escaped suspects.

The Kasipul is one of six constituencies that will be undergoing parliamentary by-elections on November 27.

The seat first became vacant after the former MP Ong’ondo Were was shot dead by unknown gunmen on April 30, creating a competitive race which has since been marred by violence.

As the by-election is only a few days away, the IEBC hopes that the forthcoming hearings and enforcement measures will enable it get the situation back on its feet and have a free, fair, and peaceful electoral procedure in Kasipul.