Eight injured as chaos break out during South Gem by-election

A vehicle with five occupants on board was involved in an accident during the South Gem polls chaos. [Isaiah Gwengi, Standard]

At least eight people were injured on Thursday afternoon, December 8, after chaos erupted during South Gem Ward by-election in Gem Constituency, Siaya County.

The incident occurred at the Kambare Polling Station after voter-bribery allegations emerged.

Police said the melee broke out following malpractice accusations and counter-accusations by supporters of two front-runners Polycarp Wanga of ODM and Independent candidate Brian Anyango.

The Kambare incident occurred after another person was injured in Aluor over voter-bribery allegations.

"The report we have is that one person was attacked at Aluor Village for allegedly bribing voters to cast their ballot for one of the leading candidates. Six men, who were armed with crude weapons, attacked the victim," Gem police boss Charles Chacha told The Standard.

The victim was rescued and is receiving treatment in hospital, authorities said.

In yet another polls violence incident, seven people were injured at Kambare Polling Station when the supporters of one of the candidates allegedly attacked members of the opposite camp.

Police said during the chaos, vehicles were stoned, resulting in one of the cars veering off the road and overturning.

The car had five occupants on board, who were all injured.

Two people were knocked down during the melee, bringing the total number of injured persons in the Kambare chaos to seven.

Police managed to restore calm and voting continued thereafter.

South Gem by-election, which has attracted eight candidates, was occasioned by the death of area MCA Nick Wanga in July 2022.