By Kamadi Amata

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has fined two Kasipul parliamentary by-election candidates Sh1 million each for violating the Electoral Code of Conduct.

In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, IEBC Disciplinary Committee chairperson Alutalala Mukhwana said independent candidate Philip Aroko and Boyd Were of ODM must pay the fines within 48 hours of the decision.

According to Mukhwana, investigations by the Commission established that the two candidates were directly linked to the recent violent confrontations in Kasipul that led to deaths and destruction of property.

“Our finding as the committee is that, based on both oral and written submissions presented before us, the two candidates are in violation of Paragraph 6 (a, b, c, e, i, k, m and n) of the Electoral Code of Conduct,” he said.

He added that the clashes stemmed from the candidates’ failure to respect the harmonised campaign schedule issued by the IEBC and agreed upon by all aspirants on October 10, 2025.

“This committee cannot emphasise enough that it is the blatant disrespect of the harmonised campaign schedule that led to the violence and the loss of innocent lives,” Mukhwana stated.

The committee issued a stern warning to both Aroko and Were, directing them to strictly follow the IEBC campaign programme going forward, without deviation.

“For these violations, Philip Aroko is hereby ordered to pay a fine of Sh1 million to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission within 48 hours. Boyd Were shall equally pay Sh1 million within the same period,” he ruled.

Mukhwana further warned that any additional breach of the Electoral Code by either candidate would attract full legal penalties, including possible disqualification from the November 27 by-election.

As part of the disciplinary action, the committee directed both candidates to immediately sign the Political Decency Charter before the Commission and the media.

“Both candidates shall publicly declare their commitment to uphold peace and tolerance in their campaigns, with a clear undertaking that any reneging on this commitment shall constitute a fresh violation of the Code of Conduct,” he said.

Mukhwana urged the candidates to take personal responsibility for ensuring their supporters remain peaceful, stressing that the IEBC will not tolerate further violence as the by-election nears.