Violence mars Kwania County NRM campaign, 10 injured in chaotic clashes

12 July 2025, 4:50 pm

By Eman yonah oruk

A joint campaign held in Acenlworo Parish, Atongtidi Sub county, Kwania District, turned violent yesterday afternoon, leaving at least 10 people seriously injured.

The clash began at around 2:00 PM when Kwania County MP, Hon. Tonny Ayoo, arrived late at the campaign venue with his supporters. He refused to use the sound system hired for the event, opting instead for his own, mounted on a tipper truck. This sparked verbal altercations among supporters and disrupted the proceedings, forcing the gathering to relocate.

As tensions escalated, Hon. Tonny Eron, a political rival to Ayoo, proceeded with his campaign at an alternative venue using a separate sound system. Meanwhile, Hon. Ayoo reportedly began distributing money to attendees, which further heightened tensions between the two factions. Violent confrontations soon broke out, with supporters from both camps engaging in stone-throwing and stick fights.

Supporters of Hon. Tonny Eron allegedly erected roadblocks and set fires along the Teilwa–Chawente road in an attempt to prevent Hon. Ayoo from accessing a nearby trading centre, further fuelling the unrest.
Eyewitnesses claim the violence was triggered when Hon. Ayoo deliberately increased the volume of his sound system to disrupt a campaign rally already underway for an LC5 aspirant.

Moses Obonyo Abila, a resident of Goi Parish, alleged that Hon. Ayoo may have hired outsiders armed with stones and sticks to deliberately disrupt the event.
Emmanuel Odongo, a 32-year-old resident of Emin B in Nsambieso Sub county, sustained serious head and chest injuries after being assaulted by supporters of Hon. Ayoo.

Another resident, Yubu Ogwal of Akwai-Wanga in Goi Parish, attributed the chaos to widespread drunkenness among some voters, which he said made the situation uncontrollable.
NRM District Chairperson, Nelson Abili Sadam, narrowly escaped the violence and subsequently announced a temporary suspension of joint campaign activities pending an official report from the NRM Secretariat.

Kwania DPC, Allison Alida, was reportedly still in a meeting and promised to issue an official statement later.