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By-election 2025: Govt officers who faced hostility at polling stations
27th November, 2025 08:17 PM
The November 27, 2025, by-elections were marred by multiple confrontations involving high-ranking government officials who encountered open hostility from voters across several constituencies.
From cabinet secretaries to members of parliament, several leaders faced angry crowds who accused them of interfering with the electoral process or overstaying at polling stations despite legal restrictions.
Also watch: Former Mumbuni North MCA attacked by mob over alleged voter bribery
The incidents, captured in widely shared videos and eyewitness testimonies, spotlight lingering tensions around the conduct of elections in Kenya and heightened public sensitivity to perceived political interference.
CS Alfred Mutua chased in Machakos
At Kasinga Primary School in Mumbuni ward, Machakos County, Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua faced an angry mob moments after accompanying Maendeleo Chap Chap candidate Harrison Wambua Mutuku to cast his vote.
In videos circulating online, irate residents are seen shouting at Mutua and demanding that he leave the polling station immediately. Police and aides were forced to escort him to his vehicle as the crowd surged forward, chanting and signalling their displeasure.
CS Geoffrey Ruku forced out of polling station
A similar confrontation unfolded in Embu County, where Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku was chased away from the Kanyuambora polling centre.
Voters accused Ruku of lingering inside the polling station despite lacking authorisation to remain there.
A video recorded moments before the clash shows the CS walking inside the station before being challenged by a resident who insisted he step outside because the campaign period was over.
When Ruku attempted to nudge the man aside, the situation escalated quickly. More residents joined in, booing, shouting, and eventually forcing the CS to leave the premises altogether.
Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga confronted in Magarini
Tensions were also reported at Magarini polling station in Kilifi County, where Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga was confronted by frustrated locals who accused him of attempting to influence voters.
Footage shared online shows residents questioning Chonga’s continued presence at the centre after casting his vote. The crowd eventually escorted him to his vehicle, shouting at him to “leave the polling station” and expressing outrage over alleged voter bribery.
Watch: MP Ken Chonga forced out of Kanagoni polling station amid bribery allegations
Bodyguards were forced to intervene as the confrontation grew heated, pushing back agitated residents while ushering the MP to safety.
Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma roughed up in Kasipul
In Kasipul constituency, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, who was present as a polling agent for ODM candidate Boyd Were, was physically attacked by a group of rowdy youths. The assault left him injured, with bloodstains visible on his shirt.
Kaluma later alleged that the attackers were supporters of independent candidate Philip Aroko, accusing the aspirant of incitement.
The MP claimed that the youths, whom he said hailed from areas such as Mathare, Kibra, and Ruaraka, were directed to assault him.
Tension
The string of confrontations points to a broader frustration among voters, many of whom remain alert to any sign of interference during elections. It also reflects a shift in public assertiveness, with voters increasingly challenging leaders who appear to violate polling station rules.
The 2025 by-elections, involving fewer than a million voters across multiple regions, nonetheless revealed persistent concerns about political conduct, electoral integrity, and the continued presence of powerful figures at polling centers.
