Ford Kenya parliamentary hopeful injured in Kimilili attack

Ford Kenya parliamentary aspirant in Bungoma County Fred Joshua Makokha/HANDDOUT

A Ford Kenya parliamentary aspirant in Bungoma County was attacked and injured after a group of assailants stormed an end-of-year party he was hosting for supporters in Kimilili.

The aspirant, Fred Joshua Makokha, was attacked at a joint in Kimilili in the evening.

Witnesses said the attackers descended on the venue, disrupting the gathering and targeting Makokha in what appeared to be a coordinated assault.

“This was just an assassination plot targeting me,” Makokha said.

During the attack, Makokha was reportedly stabbed and his vehicle vandalised, with stones hurled at it as chaos erupted at the venue.

He was rushed to Kimilili Sub-County Hospital, where he received treatment for his injuries. His vehicle was later towed to Kimilili Police Station, where it is being held as part of ongoing investigations.

Makokha reported the incident at the Kimilili Police Station and was issued with Occurrence Book number 59 of December 27, 2025, recorded at 2101 hours.

Police said investigations are ongoing as officers pursue the suspects and seek to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Makokha further claimed that the assailants stole thousands of US dollars from his car during the incident, in addition to vandalising the vehicle.

He accused his rivals, who are also eyeing the parliamentary seat, of orchestrating the violence, allegations that had not been independently verified by the time of publication.

Locals suggest the attack may be linked to Makokha’s rising political profile and growing popularity in the constituency.

He is a close ally of National Assembly Speaker Moses Masika Wetang’ula and serves as the resource mobilisation lead in the Ford Kenya Youth League, a position that has enhanced his visibility within the party.

Separately, the rival aspirant has also been linked to a recent incident in which former MCA David Baraza, who is also an artist, was allegedly assaulted.

The incident has renewed focus on political violence in Kenya, which has long cast a shadow over the country’s democratic processes, particularly during election cycles.

In several cases, rivals have been accused of mobilising goons to intimidate, disrupt meetings or attack opponents to weaken their campaigns and instil fear among supporters.

Such violence often involves confrontations at political gatherings, destruction of campaign materials and targeted assaults on candidates or their allies.

Youths, many of them unemployed and vulnerable, are frequently recruited and paid to carry out the attacks, turning political competition into a dangerous contest fought on the streets rather than through ideas and policy.

Leaders warn that unless perpetrators and their sponsors are held accountable, political violence will continue to undermine public confidence in elections and threaten the integrity of Kenya’s democracy.