ODM Main Agent MP Ken Chonga Chased at Kanagoni Polling Station

Chaos erupted at a primary school polling station in Magarini on Thursday morning when Kilifi South Member of Parliament Ken Chonga, who was serving as the main Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) agent for the Magarini by-election, was forcibly chased away by furious voters who accused him of attempting to interfere with the voting process.

Eyewitnesses told reporters that trouble started shortly after 8 am when voters noticed the outspoken legislator moving from one stream to another, allegedly whispering to presiding officers and trying to access the back room where election materials were kept.

Within minutes, a group of mostly youth and women confronted Chonga, shouting that he had no business being inside the polling station beyond his designated agent table.

“Get out! You are not from Magarini; go back to Kilifi South!” the crowd chanted as they pushed the visibly shaken MP toward the gate. Some voters threw plastic chairs, while others waved voter cards in protest.

Chonga attempted to calm the situation by raising his hands and claiming he was only verifying agent lists, but the frustrated residents would have none of it.

Video footage circulating widely on TikTok and WhatsApp groups shows the legislator sprinting from the station compound as dozens of voters pursued him up to the main gate.

His official vehicle, a white Toyota Prado, was briefly blocked before being allowed to get out of the station and escape. The dramatic incident has quickly become the talking point of the Magarini by-election, with many residents expressing frustration that high-profile politicians from outside the constituency are trying to influence the vote.

“We know our candidates. We don’t need outsiders coming to confuse our clerks or intimidate voters,” said Omar Juma, a fish trader who witnessed the confrontation.

Local ODM officials distanced themselves from Chonga’s actions, with the Magarini branch chairman stating that only accredited constituency agents were allowed to monitor the process.

“Hon Ken Chonga is a respected party member, but he overstepped his mandate today. The party regrets the confusion caused,” he told journalists outside the tallying centre.

No injuries were reported. Later, he addressed the media in Malindi town, claiming he was only responding to complaints from ODM supporters who said their agents were being blocked from entering certain streams.

“I went there peacefully as the coastal ODM coordinating agent. What happened was unfortunate and shows how some people want to rig this election through violence,” he said.

The by-election in Magarini was called following a court case that led to the nullification of the results in 2022. Seven candidates are contesting the seat, with the main battle expected between DCP’s Stanley Kenga and ODM’s Garama Kombe.

Turnout appeared high despite the morning drama, with long queues reported at most polling stations by midday. Election observers from ELOG and the Kenya Human Rights Commission commended voters for remaining peaceful after the incident and urged all agents to respect IEBC guidelines.

The electoral body reminded political actors that they can only have one agent per candidate inside polling stations at any given time.

As counting begins this evening, the dramatic chasing of Ken Chonga from the primary school has added another chapter to Kenya’s often colourful by-election history, with many wondering whether the incident will sway undecided voters in the final hours.