Police in Kakamega have warned politicians and political parties campaigning for the Matungu parliamentary by-election against inciting violence as political temperatures rise ahead of the March 4, 2021 mini-poll.

County Police Commander Hassan Barua warned leaders of the key political parties ODM, ANC and Jubilee and politicians running independently not to engage in violent acts.

He said he was aware of complaints by some candidates that some forces were regrouping to disrupt their campaigns using violence.

The Matungu parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of MP Justus Murunga on November 14.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announced a by-election for March 4.

Politicians are expected to make inroads within Matungu as they seek to popularise themselves or their candidates.

“Let each party and politician observe the rule of law while campaigning in Matungu so that we avoid cases of violence. Election laws are straightforward. We should avoid violence at all costs and anyone who will violate the law should not lay blame on another but face his ills,” warned Mr Barua.

His sentiments were echoed by a section of leaders taking part in the campaigns, including ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, who observed that the people of Matungu were mourning and should not be subjected to chaos.

Conduct themselves peacefully

Mr Mudavadi called on his supporters to conduct themselves peacefully as they campaign for the party's candidate Peter Nabulindo.

Mr Mudavadi, who on December 24 led a team of ANC MPs in unveiling their candidate for the Matungu by-election, said that even though there were a lot of “dark forces” against their candidate, the party was putting God ahead of everything to ensure it recaptures the seat.

“The journey we have started is to ensure victory for our candidate. We are putting God ahead of us as we move within Matungu to ask the electorate to vote for our candidate. The by-election should leave us more united,” said Mr Mudavadi at Ejinja Catholic Church.
But Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali said the Tangatanga faction will not chest-thumb or insult their competitors as they make roads in Matungu but move stealthily as they popularise their candidate.

“Kenya is watching with interest to see what happens here. People are very keen that this should be a peaceful election process.

Elections come and go but brotherhood remains. We want the people of Matungu to remain united after the mini-poll,” said Mr Washiali.
Mr Bernard Wakoli, who is running as an independent candidate, urged his supporters to embrace peaceful campaigns and avoid shedding of blood.

“Let us give the voters a chance to decide without coercion who their next MP will be,” said Mr Wakoli.

Several leaders, including Titus Khamala (MP Lurambi) and Khadija Nganyi (aspiring Woman Representative in Kakamega), have called on the people of Matungu to observe peace during the campaigns.

Matungu has been a hotspot of violence in the recent past where more than 20 people were killed when a gang unleashed terror on residents between March and June last year.

Four politicians, among them the late MP, were arrested in connection with the killings but were released without charges after the prosecution failed to link them to the deaths.

[email protected]