Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has called upon the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to rise to the occasion and address the issue of goonism during voting periods.

Speaking during an interview on a local radio station on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, Governor Barasa stated that goons roaming polling stations during elections have become a menace.

Referencing the recently concluded by-elections, where incidents of goonism were highly visible and disrupted the polling process, he said these activities contributed to voter apathy and instilled fear among Kenyans particularly in Malava Constituency.

He added that he had played an active role campaigning for United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate David Ndakwa, but many people who wanted to exercise their democratic rights were unable to do so due to the electoral violence perpetrated by goons.

On these grounds, he has called upon the IEBC to implement strict measures to curb such activities during elections.

“Jambo ambalo ningeguzia ni hii swala la goons. Nakumbuka kabla kura ipigwe kulikuwa na magoons. Hii ilipewa watu hofu sana ikaathiri voter turnout. Hii inafanya watu ambao wako na roho ya kupiga kura kuto turn out. 2027 IEBC inafaa ikuwe strict na jambo hilo,” Fernandes stated.

These incidents come after hotly contested by-elections that saw criminal activities perpetrated by individuals believed to be goons associated with politicians vying for various seats.

Electoral violence

In Kasipula, Kabondo, Homa Bay MP Peter Kaluma was attacked, and his bodyguards’ firearm was stolen, though it was later recovered by police.

Kaluma accused independent candidate Philip Aroko of orchestrating the attack, claiming that Aroko’s goons were responsible.

Aroko, however, refuted the accusations, stating that he had tried to protect Kaluma from being assaulted and that the people who attacked him were unknown to him and were not part of his entourage.

Similar incidents occurred in Malava Constituency, where a vehicle belonging to Democratic Action Party (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa was burnt down by unknown individuals, and the candidate Seth Panyako sustained damage.

 Panyako explained that the previous night, he had been attacked at his hotel in Kaburengu along with his wife. The hotel was damaged, leaving him counting losses, and his personal aides were injured, forcing him to take them to the hospital. His vehicles were also punctured during the attack.

In Mbeere North, after voting, masked individuals were seen at the Siakago polling station, wielding batons and fighting with a rival group, while police reportedly watched without intervening.