Two young men lie lifeless at the Rachuonyo Subcounty Mortuary, victims of a senseless political clash that has left Kasipul reeling. What should have been a democratic exercise has instead reopened deep wounds of a nation still haunted by electoral bloodshed.
As investigations continue, the church has spoken in one unwavering voice, condemning the killings in the strongest terms possible and calling the country to order.
“Given the dark past in which lives have been lost during electioneering periods, I thought we had learnt as a community to shun violence and embrace peaceful elections,” said Cardinal Rev. Moses Tedy Oketch, the Head of Nomiya Church Kenya. “This is what is least expected of us and yet here we are again mourning sons whose only crime was political passion.”
‘If Death Visits a By-Election, What of a General Poll?’
The cardinal’s words cut deep as he questioned the moral compass of the nation.
“If this is just a by-election where the winner will serve barely two years and already two deaths are witnessed, what will happen when such a leader seeks a full electoral term?” he posed. “We have lost our way if leadership must now be baptized in blood.”
Cardinal Oketch urged political parties, their supporters and the electoral commission to uphold peace and dignity, saying the cost of violence far outweighs any political prize.
“Let us go back to our knees,” he said solemnly. “Pray to God, for whoever He wills to lead will lead us. As the Church, we plead with the people of Kasipul to restrain themselves, to conduct a peaceful poll and to remember that beyond this election, we must continue to live as brothers and sisters.”
The Church’s Collective Outcry
His sentiments echo those of other senior clergy, among them Bishop Charles K’Okombo, National Treasurer of the Full Gospel Churches of Kenya and Bishop Syprian Mwalo Kodieny, who both condemned the killings and urged restraint among youths.
“We are seeing a worrying rise in political arrogance and intolerance,” Bishop K’Okombo warned. “Peace is divine, yet many only recognise its value once it’s gone. Kasipul must lead by example, not by blood.”
Bishop Kodieny also cautioned young people against being used as political pawns, warning that high-adrenaline campaigns often end in grief and shame.
“No politician’s ambition is worth a single life,” she said. “If we do not change course, death will become a regular guest at our rallies and that would be an unforgivable stain on our democracy.”
A Nation Standing at the Crossroads
The Kasipul by-election was expected to be a test of maturity. A small local contest to fill a seat left vacant, but the violence that unfolded has once again exposed Kenya’s deep political fault lines.
Religious leaders now warn that if these trends persist, the entire electoral process risks losing its moral legitimacy.
“We cannot keep burying our children in the name of democracy,” Cardinal Oketch said. “Let us restore decency to our politics, for no ballot paper is worth a coffin.”
He further appealed to the security agencies and IEBC to ensure that order is maintained in all subcounties across the country preparing for by-elections.
“Life is sacred,” he concluded. “God will punish those who shed innocent blood. Let the people of Kasipul choose their leader in peace and may that peace prevail across our land.”
The bloodshed in Kasipul is not just a local tragedy; it is a sobering reminder of Kenya’s recurring electoral nightmare. The voices from the pulpit are a clarion call not just for calm, but for conscience.
Until leaders, followers and institutions alike begin to treat peace as sacred and life as inviolable, every campaign season risks becoming another funeral procession.
