Otiende Amollo urges peaceful politics after he meets former rivals
By Mustafa Juma, May 24, 2026Rarieda Member of Parliament (MP) Otiende Amollo has emphasised the importance of peaceful political competition.
This is after he met his former rivals for the Rarieda parliamentary seat, Augustine Neto Adhola, often referred to as Capt. Neto, who serves as the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Lands, Physical Planning, Housing, and Urban Development in Siaya County, and Advocate Isaiah Munje.
Call for unity after elections
Taking to his official X account on Sunday, May 24, 2026, Amollo said their discussions were cordial and reflected the need for leaders to maintain unity even after intense political contests.
He said political rivalry should be based on ideas and democratic choice, warning against hostility and divisions that often emerge after elections.
Otiende Amollo, who has often advocated for constitutionalism and democratic values, reiterated the importance of maintaining respect among political competitors.
“RariedaTimes; Had good conversations with my erstwhile competitors for the Rarieda Seat, CEC Neto Adhola & Adv Isaiah Munje. Political Competition should never be ruinous or fatalistic,” Amollo wrote on X.
Concerns over goons
Amollo’s remarks come amid concerns of a rise in the use of goons in political events as the country heads into the 2027 general elections.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Erastus Ethekon has since warned that politicians found to be sponsoring violence or using criminal gangs to disrupt political activities could be barred from participating in future elections.
Speaking on Friday, May 15, 2026, during a consultative meeting with the interior ministry, Ethekon said the commission is prepared to take firm action against individuals suspected of mobilising gangs to intimidate opponents or destabilise political gatherings.
The IEBC chairperson said the country is increasingly facing challenges linked to youth involvement in criminal gangs and politically motivated violence.
“As a country we are faced with challenges, emerging challenges, of course, like the issue of our young people sometimes participating in this phenomenon called ‘goonism’ and, of course, joining these criminal gangs and being mobilised by political actors,” Ethekon said.
He noted that the problem must be addressed comprehensively by targeting both the unemployed youth being recruited and the political figures allegedly financing or directing the violence.
Ethekon said security agencies and electoral authorities must identify the individuals behind the recruitment and deployment of violent groups during political events.
“We as IEBC are clear on this issue, particularly our Inspector General; we need to deal decisively with this issue, both from the demand side and the supply side. Because these young people, on their own, they cannot engage in political violence. There are people who have the demand for their services, and being unemployed and facing some of the challenges, they are likely to engage in these activities for survival,” he stated.