Two rival groups in Mberee North on Thursday, November 27, 2025, clashed as the voting process was closed.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The incident that was broadcast live on local tellies showed one of the group carrying rungus as they engaged the other group in what they termed as guarding their votes.
During the melee, a section of journalists was affected as they had their phones were snatched.
Police lobbed tear gas to disperse the rival groups, who engaged in running battles in Siakago town, near the Siakago Social Hall polling station.
The goons continued to engage in a stone-throwing contest, forcing the police to fire live ammunition in the air.
Mukunji accuses political rivals
Speaking at the scene moments after the tension cooled, Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji accused the rival United Democratic Alliance (UDA) camp of plotting to subvert the will of the people by sneaking stuffed ballots into polling stations.
The lawmaker also accused his Mathira counterpart of trying to force himself into the Siakago polling station with goons.
“We have had a very peaceful day, where elections were very peaceful. I believe the will of the people of Mbeere North will be clearly realised, but interestingly, just about the time the polling stations were being closed, Hon. Wamumbi, MP for Mathira, came here with goons, trying to force himself in, trying to use Mungiki that was around since yesterday, and the police are working together with the goons. The people of Siakago are very furious that their will might be subverted through some infiltration of some ballot boxes,” he said.
By-election violence
The by-elections, held across several wards and constituencies, were marred by reports of violence, voter intimidation, clashes between rival political camps, and confrontations with police.
The incidents have sparked national debate about political accountability and the future of peaceful elections in Kenya.
Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma and his bodyguard sustained injuries after being attacked during the Kasipul parliamentary by-election on Thursday, November 27, 2025. Kaluma’s bodyguard’s firearm was also reported missing following the incident.
“I’m in a sitution where I am the observer for the ODM candidate. You can see I am bleeding. I have been attacked by Aroko and a team of goons. They have gone with the gun, for my body guard. And you can see they have stolen. And he’s the one who was telling them to hit me when I’m okay. And I’m here to wait for our ODM candidate to be on the way to vote,” Kaluma said.
“This is not acceptable. I want to tell our people to stay now. Come out and vote. Don’t worry about what is happening. Come out and vote. These people want to cause violence so that they scare people from voting.”
