Homa Bay Town MP Peter George Kaluma and his bodyguard were attacked by unknown assailants in the heat of the Kasipul by-election, with the attackers reportedly making away with the bodyguard's firearm.
Kaluma, serving as the ODM Party's chief agent in the poll, was confronted by a group of youths at the Agoro Sare Primary School polling station.
"These are former robbers and very dangerous people. Some are armed," the MP claimed, accusing supporters of independent candidate Philip Aroko of orchestrating the assault.
Kaluma, who had arrived at the station ahead of ODM candidate Boyd Were Ong'ondo, sustained a head injury during the confrontation and was later taken to the hospital.
According to reports, the fracas erupted shortly after independent candidate Philip Aroko arrived at the station to check on the progress of voting, having earlier cast his ballot at Kachieng Primary School in East Kamagak Ward.
"Some youths confronted MP Kaluma, asking what he was doing there since he is not a voter in Kasipul. They pushed and hit him on the back of the head," a witness told a local publication.
In a separate, unverified video said to be recorded in the same area, a group of youths is seen brandishing a gun, alleged to be the rifle belonging to Kaluma's bodyguard.
Authorities had not confirmed the authenticity of the footage by press time.
Earlier this month, both Aroko and ODM's Boyd Were were fined Sh1 million each over violence witnessed during the campaign period, which left three people dead and several others injured.
A security assessment conducted hours before polling began showed heavy deployment of police officers following the chaotic campaign season.
The government had warned that anyone found violating election laws would face terrorism-related charges, citing concerns over escalating disorder.
The Kasipul race has drawn nine candidates, including Boyd Were (ODM), Philip Aroko (Independent), Collins Okeyo (MDG), Money Bior/Robert Riaga (Independent), Rateng Okoth K'Otiende (UPA), Abok Isaac Kiche (Kenya Moja Movement), Ishmael Omondi Koyoo (NLP), Linda Aoko (Independent), and Robert Ouko Ouma (LPK).
All photos by Sammy Omingo, Standard
