Why violence may disadvantage candidates in Kasipul parliamentary by-election

ODM candidate Boyd Were (carrying a paper) addressing journalists. (James Omoro, Standard) A successful candidate for Kasipul parliamentary by-election is expected to have an uphill task of ending violence and uniting the people of the constituency known for political skirmishes. The candidates include Aroko Philip Nashon (Independent), Abok Isaac Kiche of Kenya Moja Movement (KMM), Bior Robert Money (Independent), Kotiende Sam Rateng Okoth of United Progressive Alliance (UPA), Omondi Collins Okeyo of Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG), Ong'ondo Boyd Were of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Koyoo Ishmael Omondi of National Liberal Party (NLP), Linda Aoko (Independent) and Robert Ouko Ouma of Labour Party of Kenya (LPK). Kasipul has recently hit headlines as a constituency with the highest incidences of political violence during the ongoing by-elections. With less than ten days to the by-election on November 27, the public eyes looking for who will address violence in the constituency. Residents of Kasipul are worried of when political violence will end and who will accomplish the goal. The most recent violence occurred at Opondo Village in Central Kasipul Ward where two young men were killed on November 6. An assistant Chief has been suspended for allegedly abetting the violence. Three police officers who went arrest the murder suspects were also injured by the goons. These and other incidents paint a picture of how chaos mar the constituency during elections. Residents say that the violence has not just begun during the by-election campaigns alone. Aggrey Otore, a leader from Kasipul argues that the constituency has been turned into a battle ground rather than a ground of reasoning on political competition. Otore argued that the violence affected many people during the reign of the late MP Ong'ndo Were. But even after Were's death, the violence still persists in the constituency. Like many other residents of Kasipul who spoke to The Standard, Otore expects the people of Kasipul to elect an MP who can end violence. "Kasipul has become a constituency known for political violence. We expect our fellow voters to elect an MP who can end violence," Otore said. The Chairman of Kasipul Elders Forum Caleb Ouko argued that violence is an enemy of development. Ouko said violence had impeded development in the constituency. "Political violence led to vandalism of Beryl's Hospital because the hospital owner was perceived as a threat during ODM nomination. Violence will prevent us from acquiring development and any candidate who wants to be elected must be ready to end it," Ouko said. Okotho Owaka, a resident, argued that electing an MP who is a peacemaker will also help bereaved families besides appeasing the dead. Owaka argued that the last regime of Kasipul political leadership was full of violence in funerals. "Bereaved families used to be worried during burial ceremonies because violence would occur at any time because of our late MP's leadership. There were instances where members of some bereaved families were assaulted when they were mourning their loved ones. We need an MP who can end violence in Kasipul," Owaka said. Samwel Owida, a political analyst warned that candidates who do not want align their manifestos with the residents' demand for peace risk losing chances of being elected in the by-election. Owida argued that the mood of voters in Kasipul showed that they were tired with violence. "The people of Kasipul have understood the pain it takes to lose a loved one or to have your relative seriously injured because of violence. Candidates who fail to demonstrate the ability to promote peace will have difficult moments in the by-election," Owida said. He wants the candidates to stop the culture of sycophancy in leadership. "In the last regime of Kasipul political leadership, we used to see the MP ferrying people to funerals to create artificial crowd for political mileage. Such a behavior is an embarrassment and the people of Kasipul should witness it in the new leadership of the constituency," Owida said. Disunity is another serious gap which the next Kasipul MP should bridge. It has been revealed that there is lurking disunity based on the past differences between Homa Bay Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga and the late MP Ong'ondo Were. According to Essau Owino, the people of Kasipul are still polarized in terms of those who were allied to Magwanga and those who allied to the late Were. These differences still play in the current politics since the late Were's supporters have been inherited by his son Boyd who is a candidate in the election. The late Were and Magwanga were serious political enemies. Their enmity began during their competition for Kasipul parliamentary seat in 2013. Their hatred continued until Were died. "It is a fact that there is serious discrimination between supporters of Mr Magwanga and those of the late Were. We need an MP who can unite these two groups of residents," Owino said. Liz Onditi, a resident argued that the next MP for Kasipul should be one who can empower the youth. Onditi argued that many youth have been neglected on empowerment, leading to the increase in the number of goons. "I expect to have an MP who can empower youth to get jobs both in the informal and formal sectors. Enabling the youth to create jobs will enable them to stop depending on handouts which force them to serve as politicians' goons," Onditi said. The other issues which are expected of the candidates are equitable distribution of public resources and prudent management of the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).

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