- Kasipul parliamentary aspirant Philip Aroko accused Homa Bay governor Gladys Wanga of fueling political violence in the constituency
- Aroko said the unrest, which he claimed has persisted for a decade, is driven by county employees loyal to the governor
- He urged security agencies to act before the by-election, warning that leaders opposing the regime face intimidation and exclusion
- The independent candidate vowed to end violence and restore voter freedom, framing his campaign as a fight for fairness
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Kasipul parliamentary aspirant Philip Aroko has directly linked the surge in violence in Kasipul constituency to Homa Bay County Governor Gladys Wanga.
Source: Facebook
Aroko’s allegations come days after being cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to contest as an independent candidate.
What are Aroko’s claims about unrest in Kasipul?
Speaking to reporters, Aroko accused the county government under Wanga’s leadership of orchestrating the unrest, which he said has plagued the constituency for over a decade.
“I’m officially a candidate for the IEBC in the coming by-elections. I expect to carry the baggage of my people of Kasipul on my shoulders and I will make sure that I get them off the problems that they’ve had before. This is a constituency is one of the volatile areas during politics marred by violence from the previous regime. This has been there for, I can say, 10 years back. My people were being so much intimidated. So I threw myself into this race just to save my people,” Aroko said laying ground for his accusations.
Aroko revealed that he initially planned to contest in 2027 but moved his campaign forward following the shooting of the sitting MP, Ong’ondo Were, in Nairobi.
The aspirant described Kasipul as a constituency where support for the “wrong” candidates has historically led to intimidation, assault, and even fatal attacks.
He accused county government employees of perpetuating such violence, claiming it is part of a broader system orchestrated under Wanga.
“The same people who are in front of this nonsense are employees of Governor Gladys Wanda. I want to tell her that I don’t fear her when it comes to protecting our people. And this should go to her, I don’t mince my words. We are not going to fear her when our people are being attacked by the same people that are employed within the county government of Homa Bay,” Aroko declared.
What vision does Aroko have for Kasipul?
He also criticised the treatment of Members of County Assembly (MCAs), arguing that they face threats and are sidelined if they do not align with the governor’s directives.
“The role of an MCA is to oversee the Governor, not worship or praise her. It is not their responsibility to list projects done by the Governor. Yet, this regime wants to impose leaders on us, telling us who our Member of Parliament should be,’ he said.
Aroko stressed that the people of Kasipul deserve the freedom to choose their leaders without interference.
“We do the right thing and elect the right leader chosen by the people. That violence will end, I guarantee you. That the people of Kasipul, if given a chance, this violence will end. Because they will choose the person that they want, not leaders imposed on them,” he asserted.
He further called on security agencies to act decisively ahead of the polls and during the much-anticipated by-election.
Source: Facebook
Aroko positioned himself as a candidate committed to change and accountability, promising that his leadership would prioritise the welfare of residents over political interests.
“We are living in a different generation and century. The people know what they want and what they don’t want.We are supporting the Government to help our people. We are not going to be selfish like them. That they support the Government but nothing trickles to the people down the line,” he opined.
What is Aroko’s plan to defeat ODM?
Earlier, Aroko called for a united front among Kasipul aspirants to check what he describes as external influence and ensure a people-driven leadership in the upcoming by-election.
He urged rivals to set aside personal ambition and coalesce around a candidate capable of defeating ODM’s Boyd Were.
Aroko framed his push as resistance against “foreign powers” seeking to impose leadership in Kasipul.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
