'Shock as Aroko Reveals What Happened to Him the Moment MP Kaluma Was Attacked by Angry Youths

Philip Aroko, the runner-up in the recent Kasipul by-election, has spoken out for the first time about the attack on Homa Bay town MP Peter Kaluma. 

During an interview on Oga Obinna's show on Monday, Aroko dismissed claims that he orchestrated the incident and shared his side of the story.

According to Aroko, tensions escalated after reports surfaced that Kaluma had allegedly attempted to bribe voters at Agoro Sare High School. 

The candidate insisted that his actions were intended to protect the MP from an unruly group of youths.

“I want to make this very clear—any suggestion that I planned this attack is completely false,” Aroko said.

“When I arrived at Agoro Sare, I found the MP surrounded by a crowd that was becoming increasingly aggressive. 

My main goal was to ensure no one got seriously hurt. I approached him to calm things down, but the situation quickly got out of control,” he added.

He continued, “As a candidate, I was checking on the voting process, and that’s when I encountered him with a local MCA. There were rumors that money was being handed out to voters. 

Keep in mind, he isn’t registered to vote in this area. I greeted him and asked why he was there, but the youths became hostile almost immediately.”

Aroko described the chaotic scene, explaining that despite his efforts to protect Kaluma, the MP’s security team was overpowered.

“The people who attacked him were not my supporters. The crowd was overwhelming, and I had to step back. During that chaos, I was also struck,” he said.

The clarification comes just days after Kaluma and his bodyguard were attacked at the polling station during the Kasipul by-elections on November 27.

Kaluma, acting as an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party agent for Boyd Were, suffered serious head injuries.

In the aftermath of the attack, Kaluma accused Aroko of hiring goons to intimidate voters and disrupt the election.

He also alleged that his bodyguard’s gun was stolen and reportedly handed to Aroko before being recovered.

Aroko, however, strongly refuted the claims. “The reports suggesting I orchestrated the attack are misleading. 

My only concern was the safety of everyone at the polling station and ensuring that the election was conducted properly,” he concluded.