President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance Party tightened its grip on the Western Region bloc by winning the West Kabras Ward Seat that had been hotly contested.
Mr Elphas Kainanga Shalakha of UDA emerged victorious with 3,317 votes, followed closely by Mr Bramwel Wasike Khaemba of the Democratic Citizens Party, who managed 2,640 votes in a tense contest. This came amid claims of voter bribery and sponsoring of violence to suppress voter turnout in certain areas.
The high number of votes garnered by DCP in an area that was UDA zone sent a clear message that the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua–led Party was making inroads in the region having won the Kisa East Ward seat in the November 27, 2025 by-election.
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko’s National Economic Development Party’s candidate George Musini Mukhwana got 199 votes, followed by Mr Shivokha Masini of Democratic National Alliance Party (79 votes) and Democratic Action Party of Kenya’s Nivah Musa Khisa (65 votes).
Meanwhile, Mr Edward Inzofu Indimuli of ODM, who withdrew from the race few days to the by-election to support of the UDA candidate, came last with 30 votes.
The total valid votes cast in the 25 polling stations was 6,330 while the voter turnout was 56.4 per cent in a by-election that was marred by pockets of violence, voter bribery, intimidation and technical hitches.
Violence, technical hitches and allegations of voter bribery marred the West Kabras Ward by-election on Thursday.
The leaders of major parties taking part in the by-election UDA and the DCP kept on trading blame games over these vices.
Voters queue at Mutsuma polling station to vote in the West Kabras Ward by-election on February 26, 2026.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
After he voted, Mr Shalakha claimed that DCP, led by its Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala, had sponsored goons to cause violence with a view to suppressing voter turnout in his strongholds.
“We have been running peaceful campaigns here in Kabras. We cannot allow sponsored goons to move freely causing violence to scare away voters like my rival is doing,” said Mr Shalakha.
But Mr Malala, who was also traversing the ward visiting polling stations, denied the allegations and claimed the by-elections was being interfered with by government officials.
Voter turnout was high in polling stations where the electorate braved the cold weather to go make their voices heard.
However, there were some hitches experienced mostly by the elderly at some Polling Stations.
The Electronic Voter Identification Kits were unable to detect their fingerprints despite numerous attempts. This prevented some voters from casting their votes.
"I came here in the morning at 6 am to vote, but the machine cannot detect my finger prints. We have been instructed to wait for a while before we make another attempt," said 74-year- old Hesborn Indeche.
There were also cases of violence witnessed on the eve of the voting day and in the morning around Bukakhunga, some forcing police to swing into action to disperse warring groups.
At Imbiakalo Primary School polling station, for instance, one person was arrested over alleged voter bribery, leading to a chaotic scene that saw the police lob teargas canisters to disperse the rowdy youth.
The violence created tension in the polling station, sending fear to some voters, especially women.
The elderly being assisted to vote at Imbiakalo Comprehensive School polling station in West Kabras ward, Malava constituency, Kakamega county on February 26, 2026.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation
While declaring Mr Shalakha the West Kabras MCA-elect, the Returning officer Salim Abdala, described the by-elections as free and fair despite the few glitches witnessed earlier in the day.
“This election was free, fair and credible despite the hitches we witnessed in some polling stations. We tried our best despite the heavy rain that delayed the tallying process. The hitches which were there were dealt with promptly with the most dominant one being identification of the thumb print of the elderly,” said Mr Abdala.
He said no machine failed on the day of the polls and that the 56 per cent voter turnout was above average, being a by-election.
While delivering his victory speech, Mr Shalakha offered an olive branch to his rivals, saying the unity and service delivery to the people of Kabras was more important than their differences.
The Kabras Ward Seat fell vacant after its former occupant Mr David Ndakwa, resigned to contest for the Malava parliamentary seat, which he went on to win, replacing the late Malulu Injendi.
