Why Kasipul By-Election Has Become a High-Stakes Battle for Life, Legacy and Power

Kenya, 20 November 2025 - The people of Kasipul are heading into a by-election that feels less like a routine democratic exercise and more like a community fighting to reclaim its dignity after a season of grief, suspicion and fear.

What began as a sombre succession race following the shocking assassination of MP Charles Ong’ondo Were has now morphed into one of the most emotionally charged political contests of the year, a contest where every rally, every accusation, and every misstep could alter the political future of the region.

At the heart of the tension are the two frontrunners—independent candidate Philip Nahashon Aroko and ODM’s Boyd Were, whose rivalry turned violent on November 6 in Opondo, leaving two young men dead and raising the question no community ever wants to ask: Is political ambition more valuable than a human life?

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) doesn’t seem to think so. In one of its firmest rulings in recent years, the Commission fined both aspirants Sh1 million and compelled them to sign a peace charter. It is a decision that has sent a clear signal: Kasipul is on notice, the country is watching, and any further descent into chaos will not be tolerated.

Yet beneath the enforcement actions lies a deeper story, a community traumatised by the unresolved murder of its MP, now caught between suspicion, political rivalry and genuine fear about what the by-election may trigger.

The killing of Charles Ong’ondo Were was not just another crime story. According to police investigations, the pistol linked to his murder was tied to multiple robberies across Nairobi and Kiambu, and some suspects were traced to known criminal networks.

The brutality of the attack, the number of arrested suspects, the recovery of key evidence, and the summoning of political figures created an atmosphere of unanswered questions.

For many residents, this by-election is therefore not just about choosing a new MP, it is about demanding truth, restoring trust and reclaiming the sense of security that was shattered on 30 April 2025.

This is why the stakes feel so high. Kasipul is tired, tired of violence, tired of funerals, tired of politicians promising peace while their supporters carry weapons. Residents want closure. They want stability. They want leadership that does not come wrapped in fear.