The drama around Kaluma’s attack during the Kasipul by-election has taken a new twist after runner-up Philip Aroko broke his silence. Aroko denied claims that he planned the assault on Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma and instead accused the legislator of engaging in voter bribery moments before chaos erupted.
His remarks have reignited debate on election integrity, political intimidation, and the line between protection and provocation in Kenya’s tense by-election scenes. Aroko insists he acted to shield Kaluma, not to harm him, and pointed fingers back at the MP.
Aroko Disputes Role in Kaluma’s Attack and Turns Allegations on MP
Philip Aroko has pushed back strongly against claims linking him to Kaluma’s attack during the November 27 Kasipul by-elections. Speaking during an interview on Oga Obinna’s show, Aroko said he did not organise or participate in any assault on MP Peter Kaluma. Instead, he accused the MP of causing outrage among local youths by allegedly engaging in voter bribery at Agoro Sare High School, a polling station where Kaluma was not registered to vote.
Aroko said he met Kaluma at the school moments before the confrontation began. He claimed that reports had already circulated that the MP and some local leaders were distributing money to influence voters. According to him, that rumour is what attracted the angry crowd that later descended on the MP.
He stressed that he was moving freely within polling stations because candidates were allowed to monitor the process. He said he approached Kaluma to ask what he was doing at the station where he was neither a voter nor a resident. Before the conversation could continue, a group of youths stormed the area and targeted the MP.
Aroko maintained that he tried to intervene and shield Kaluma from the mob. However, the crowd overpowered both him and Kaluma’s security team. He said both he and the MP were hit in the confusion, insisting the attackers were not affiliated with him.
The by-election confrontation left Kaluma with serious head injuries. His bodyguard was also injured, and his firearm went missing before it was later recovered. Kaluma accused Aroko of hiring goons to disrupt the election and attack him, an accusation Aroko now calls false and politically motivated.
Aroko Blames Voter Bribery Claims for Fueling Kaluma’s Attack
Aroko said the tension at Agoro Sare High School started after word spread that Kaluma and others were bribing voters. He argued that the MP’s presence at a polling station where he was not registered raised questions among residents. The independent candidate maintained that the confrontation was not orchestrated but was a reaction from youths who believed the MP was interfering with the vote.
He added that the allegations of bribery had already created unrest before he even met the MP. Aroko said he approached Kaluma out of curiosity and respect but quickly found himself in the middle of a growing crowd that felt aggrieved by the rumours.
Aroko said his attempts to calm the situation failed when the crowd became too aggressive. He insisted that no one in that crowd acted on his instruction and denied being part of any plot.
Chaos at Agoro Sare Dominated Talk on Kaluma’s Attack
The scene at Agoro Sare High School turned chaotic in minutes. Aroko said he witnessed youths charging at the MP in anger. He said Kaluma’s bodyguard tried to protect him but was overwhelmed. Aroko said he backed away when the situation became volatile, and that is when he was also hit.
Witnesses reported that the MP and his bodyguard were struck before the firearm went missing. Kaluma later told the media that Aroko received the weapon. Aroko has flatly denied the claim, calling it a desperate attempt to taint his image after the confrontation.
He maintained that the weapon was not in his possession at any moment, and he welcomed investigations.
Political Tensions Rise After Disputed Claims Linked to Kaluma’s Attack
The incident has deepened divisions within Kasipul politics. Aroko accused Kaluma of using the attack to shift blame from allegations of bribery. He said the MP’s narrative is meant to discredit him after the by-election loss.
Kaluma, on the other hand, insists that Aroko organised the attack to intimidate ODM agents and influence the ongoing vote.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has not released a detailed statement on the confrontation. Police say investigations are ongoing, including into the missing firearm and the assault.
