The enduring survivor: Harrison Kombe reclaims Magarini in turbulent 20-year bid
Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro (left) and ODM Deputy Party Leader and Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir celebrate Magarini MP-elect Harrison Kombe (centre) after he was declared the winner in the November 27 by-election by the IEBC on November 28, 2025.
In a dramatic replay of electoral fortunes, Harrison Kombe solidified his reputation as a political survivor, winning the Magarini parliamentary seat for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in a hotly contested mini-poll.
This victory marks a significant milestone in a political career defined by two nullified elections and two court-ordered by-elections, confirming Kombe's unique political survival skills in Kilifi County.
Emerging victorious after the Supreme Court nullified his narrow 2022 win, Kombe did not mince words, immediately declaring the result a decisive victory for the ODM party, affirming its unwavering political anchor and supremacy along the Coast region.
For Mr Kombe, his win political career has been defined by extraordinary turbulence and relentless struggle.
His first victory in 2002 was nullified by the High Court over a technical error involving his opponent's campaign symbol.
Following this initial setback, his journey was dominated by a decades-long electoral battle against the powerful Kingi political dynasty, starting with his defeat by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi in 2007, and later losing to the Speaker’s brother, Michael Kingi, in 2017.
After spending five years in the cold, he reclaimed the seat in 2022, but his challenges continued when his main opponent in that election moved to court to challenge the win.
On March 3, 2023, Malindi High Court Judge Alfred Mabeya nullified the August 9, 2022, victory of Mr Kombe in a petition filed by Mr Kenga, citing irregularities, including vote interchange and vote stuffing.
Politian Harrison Kombe of ODM.
Mr Kombe's attempts to stop the by-election were futile after both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court upheld the High Court nullification, leading Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to declare the seat vacant late last year.
Kombe's win in Thursday’s by-election has tightened ODM's grip in the Coast region, but the opposition continues to warn that the orange party's popularity will be truly tested in the 2027 General Election, when each party and candidate stands on their own.
In the Magarini by-election, Mr Kombe won in a landslide with 17,909 votes, followed by Stanley Kenga of DCP with 8,907 votes. Mr Kenga had shifted camp to then Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's party after the government entered a deal to support ODM's candidate.
The outcome of the by-election firmly reaffirmed ODM’s dominance in the area, long considered one of the party’s strongholds.
Mr Kombe is slated for the swearing-in to complete his term on Tuesday next week, but locals said he only won after receiving support from the government.
"We wanted change, but the support from government and other parties made him win. What we want is for him to serve us in the next two years since we have been without a representative for more than 18 months," said John Mkamburi, a Marafa resident.
The ODM candidate, who was regarded as a broad-based candidate after UDA and Senate Speaker Amason Kingi's party, Pamoja African Alliance (PAA), threw their weight behind him, gained an edge in the November 27 by-election, which attracted nine candidates.
While giving his maiden speech, the MP-elect thanked President William Ruto for the support that helped him win.
On President Ruto's social media pages, he also congratulated Mr Kombe among other politicians elected in the just concluded by-elections, signalling future alignments with the Orange party.
Magarini Returning Officer Joseph Fondo announced the results on Friday morning, saying the voters displayed discipline during the exercise.
"We experienced a very low turnout of 34.7 per cent during the Thursday by-election. We urge that in future, efforts be made to increase participation," said Mr Fondo.
Election observers in the Magarini by-election have raised concerns over the poor voter turnout.
According to the Magarini by-election Presiding Officer, Mr Joseph Mwafondo, the voting exercise witnessed a turnout of 34 percent amid widespread voter apathy.
Several challenges
Magarini constituency has six wards: Magarini, Sabaki, Gongoni, Adu, Marafa, and Garashi.
Haki Africa Executive Director Yusuf Abubakar said despite the election being free and fair, with observers allowed to monitor the exercise, there were several challenges.
"It was a big challenge that out of over 80,000 registered voters, only 27,000 voted," he said, noting that a majority of voters were women, with few youth turning out to vote.
The rate of voter illiteracy was high, and many voters did not know how to read and write.
"There were many assisted voters. Voter education was a challenge and many voters did not know the voting process and were assisted by returning officers, agents, and clerks," he said.
The Haki Africa boss added that it was unfortunate that some voters expected to be enticed to vote, with many voters idling outside polling stations until they were enticed before heading in to cast their ballots.
Chaos erupted after Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga was ejected out of Kanagoni Primary School Polling Station in the Magarini by-elections on November 27, 2025.
Other contenders in the race included Furaha Ngumbao Chengo of DNA, who got 227 votes; Amos Katana (Independent), who got 182;
Sarah Wahito Gakahu of the Kenya Moja Movement, the only woman in the race, who got 12 votes; Federal Party of Kenya candidate Jacob Themo, who managed 70 votes; Hamadi Karisa Chadi of Roots Party, who got 138;
Emmanuel Kalama of The We Alliance Party (TWAP), who ended up with 60 votes; and Kasisi John Sulubu Masha of Kenya Social Congress, who received 10 votes.
During the last General Election, Mr Kombe won by a small margin, garnering 11,946 votes against Kenga's 11,925 in the hot contest.
On Friday, the ODM brigade, led by Deputy Party Leader and Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir and Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro, maintained that ODM will remain in the broad-based government beyond 2027.
"Our party leader left us in the government. We cannot afford to be in the opposition. Those who are there have lost in the by-elections, indicating Kenyans do not have faith in them," said Mr Nassir.
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