Man’s hand chopped off as goons infiltrate ODM grassroots elections in Homa Bay
Two youths from Ndhiwa Constituency, Homa Bay County, on Monday, April 7, 2025, sustained serious injuries following a violent confrontation between factions in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party ward grassroots elections.
Elaine Omondi, 25, lost his wrist after it was chopped off using a machete, while David Oluoch sustained deep cuts on the neck and a fractured left arm after being attacked by suspected hired goons at Buche Primary School, where the exercise was ongoing.
According to the Ndhiwa Police Commander John Losia, the incident took place in the morning after youths believed not to be from Ndhiwa arrived in a proboscis vehicle and started disrupting the exercise.
The officer said the “hired goons” were, however, overpowered by the delegates and the locals before unleashing the attack on the two .
“Some youths who were hired from outside Ndhiwa constituency arrived at Buche Primary School with an intention to disrupt the event,” Losia said.
“They were, however, overpowered by the delegates and the locals who were present before attacking the two youths, causing them serious injuries,” he added.
Goons escape
Losia, however, said that the youths later escaped to an unknown destination and no arrest was made.
“This is a political matter, and I do not want to be engaged in it; my mandate is to protect the presiding officer from any attack,” he said.
He, however, appealed to the party supporters to carry out the exercise peacefully, saying there is no need for using thorax.
The two were rushed to Ndhiwa Sub County Hospital for medication before being transferred to Homa Bay Teaching and Referral Hospital for further medical attention.
The officer in charge of Ndhiwa Sub County Hospital, Dr Nichodemus Odundo, confirmed the two were brought to the hospital while profusely bleeding. However, they managed to stabilise their situation before being transferred to Homa Bay level four hospitals.
“One the patient’s left wrist was chopped off, while the other had a deep cut on the neck and a broken left arm; however, we managed to control the bleeding before referring them to HTRH for further medication,” he said.
ODM elections
The ODM party is conducting its ward elections to elect delegates who will participate in the constituency grassroots elections scheduled for April 9, 2024.
Meanwhile, Homa Bay Deputy Governor Joseph Oyugi Magwanga has called on party supporters to carry out a peaceful exercise, saying there is no need to cause violence, as this will tarnish the good party’s name.
Magwanga said there is no need to shed someone’s blood in the name of grassroots elections, adding that the party needs everyone’s support ahead of the forthcoming elections.
Magwanga spoke at the Nyandiwa Primary School polling in West Kamagak, Kasipul Constituency, where he went to participate in the exercise.
“As a party we do not want a situation where we lose lives or sustain injuries in our elections. I want to call upon our supporters to maintain peace during the exercise as we build a strong foundation towards the 2027 general elections,” he said.
“I want to call for peace as we strengthen our party in preparation for the 2027 presidential race. ODM is our party, and we must ensure that all our activities are carried out according to the stipulated law; it is upon us whether to build it or destroy it,” he said.
