A quiet but seismic realignment is reshaping the Kasipul Kabondo by-election, with defeated ODM nominees heeding businessman Philip Aroko’s rallying call to form a united front against the party’s flagbearer, Boyd Were — a candidate many in the constituency now dismiss as politically clueless and wholly propped up by his late father’s legacy.
Aroko, a seasoned businessman with deep grassroots networks, has emerged as the nerve centre of an anti-establishment wave that is shaking the once-unquestioned dominance of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in Kasipul. His message is resonating: enough of imposed leaders and transactional politics.
Rivals Turn Allies
Sources within Kasipul’s political circles confirm that nearly all ODM aspirants defeated in the chaotic primaries — including Newton Ogada, George Orinda, and former civic leader Mary Atieno — have quietly thrown their support behind Aroko’s independent bid.
In exclusive interviews, several of them admitted they had lost faith in the integrity of the ODM nomination process, describing it as “stage-managed to deliver a preordained result.”
“The outcome was never about merit or popularity,” said one former aspirant, who requested anonymity. “It was about protecting the interests of a political dynasty. The people of Kasipul deserve better.”
This alliance marks an unprecedented break from ODM’s long tradition of internal discipline, especially in Homa Bay County — a region that has historically voted in near-total loyalty to the Orange Party.
The Boyd Were Problem
At the centre of the storm is Boyd Were, the son of the late MP Ong’ondo Were, whose tragic death earlier this year triggered the by-election. Critics argue that apart from his surname, the younger Were offers little substance to Kasipul’s pressing problems.
“Boyd’s entire campaign is built on nostalgia and sympathy,” said a political analyst in Oyugis. “He has no policy vision, no community projects, and no record of independent leadership. He’s running purely on inheritance politics.”
Even more damning are accusations that Boyd’s campaign has been heavily stage-managed by ODM headquarters — with senior party figures, including Governor Gladys Nyasuna Wanga and Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, publicly endorsing him despite clear grassroots discontent.
“It is disheartening,” said a veteran ODM mobilizer now defecting to Aroko’s camp. “Governor Wanga and Sifuna should be defending democracy, not fronting a clueless upstart for the sake of party optics.”
Aroko’s Counteroffensive
Philip Aroko’s campaign strategy is simple yet potent: frame the by-election as a referendum on local autonomy versus external imposition. His rhetoric has struck a chord across Kasipul’s diverse wards, from Kachieng to Kabondo East.
In his Sunday statement, Aroko declared:
“This is not about one candidate, one slogan, or one symbol. It’s about restoring dignity to Kasipul politics. We are tired of leaders being imposed on us by party elites who have no stake in our struggles.”
His camp is already receiving logistical support from a network of businessmen, teachers, and youth groups frustrated by ODM’s perceived arrogance. Independent sources estimate that Aroko’s campaign is gaining traction especially among first-time voters and professionals disenchanted with patronage politics.
Cracks in the Orange Wall
ODM’s once-formidable grip on Kasipul is showing visible cracks. While the party leadership insists that unity will prevail, the ground reality paints a different picture.
“We have been loyal to ODM since 2007,” said a boda boda chairman in Kachieng. “But this time, we are voting for a leader, not a colour. The orange has faded.”
Party operatives have reportedly intensified door-to-door campaigns, deploying county staff and resources to shore up Boyd Were’s flagging image — a move that has further alienated local voters.
Aroko, in turn, has accused the county administration of using intimidation tactics and state machinery to harass his supporters, linking several incidents of violence in Oyugis to rogue county officers aligned with ODM.
Beyond Kasipul, the by-election has become a test case for ODM’s internal democracy and the endurance of Raila Odinga’s grassroots control in Luo Nyanza. Analysts warn that if Aroko’s insurgency succeeds, it could embolden other regions to challenge ODM’s nomination practices — long criticized as opaque and predetermined.
“What is happening in Kasipul is not just a rebellion,” said political commentator Joshua Nyandega. “It’s a statement — that loyalty to Raila no longer means blind acceptance of injustice.”
For now, Aroko’s movement continues to gather steam, bringing together unlikely allies united by one conviction: that Kasipul’s leadership must be earned, not inherited.
As campaign temperatures rise, one thing is clear — the Kasipul by-election is no longer a routine contest. It has morphed into a grassroots revolt against political entitlement.
While Boyd Were clings to the ODM ticket and party machinery, Aroko is rewriting the playbook through unity, defiance, and authenticity.
And if the current momentum holds, Kasipul might deliver a loud and humbling message — that even the might of ODM can be defeated when the people finally decide to think for themselves.
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