A polling clerk uses a Kiems kit to identify a voter.
President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is fighting to cement its authority with the February 26 by-elections in Isiolo, Embu and Kakamega counties serving as a litmus test.
The by-elections pit the Kenya Kwanza government against the united opposition, which has fielded candidates in Isiolo South Constituency MP seat mini-poll, the Evurore and Muminji wards in Mbeere North Constituency, and in West Kabras Ward in Malava, Kakamega County.
The polls, scheduled for February 26, will be the second political acid test for President Ruto and the opposition in the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The Evurore and Muminji ward seats fell vacant after the incumbents resigned to contest the Mbeere North parliamentary seat in a recent by-election, while the Isiolo South seat fell vacant following the demise of MP Mohamed Bidu. The West Kabras Ward fell vacant upon the election of Mr David Ndakwa as Malava MP.
Last year, UDA narrowly floored the opposition in the hotly contested Mbeere North parliamentary by-election. In this second round of polls, the opposition has vowed to remain vigilant to prevent any alleged rigging.
“We are ready to take on UDA, and as the opposition, we are confident that we shall win the two by-elections by a landslide,” said Kiambeere MCA Lenny Masters.
The opposition claimed that the Mbeere North by-election was rigged in favour of UDA and challenged the exercise in court.
“We shall guard our votes to make sure that we bag the two ward seats,” Mr Masters added.
Among the contenders are Peterson Njeru and Duncan Muratia of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), vying for the Muminji and Evurore wards, respectively.
The duo will face opposition candidates Albert Kigoro (Evurore) of the Democratic Party (DP), Boniface Kariuki (Muminji) of the Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP), and Kennedy Njeru (Evurore) of the United Green Movement Party (UGMP).
President William Ruto and the politics of Mount Kenya region.
Dr Ruto, whose fortunes in the Mt Kenya region have dwindled following the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua, is seeking to reassert his authority and control over the vote-rich region.
However, this is proving to be a herculean task.
As the by-elections draw closer, all political cards are on the table.
Both the opposition and the government machinery have changed their campaign styles, focusing largely on town hall meetings and household visits.
From door-to-door vote hunting to political acts of generosity, all camps are leaving nothing to chance.
A win for UDA would undoubtedly give President Ruto much-needed relief and tighten his grip on the politically slippery Mt Kenya region.
Conversely, a loss would bolster the Gachagua-led battalion and deal a heavy blow to Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku and Governor Cecily Mbarire are aggressively campaigning for the UDA candidates.
They have been criss-crossing the two wards, urging voters to support UDA candidates for the sake of development.
“The opposition has nothing to offer in terms of development. If Evurore and Muminji want good roads and water, they should ignore the opposition and vote for our candidates,” Mr Ruku said at one of the campaign meetings.
Isiolo South
In Isiolo South, the by-election remains a sibling rivalry with the ruling party on overdrive to eliminate any competition on election day.
On Friday, Mr Isaack Fayo, the National Economic Development Party (NEDP) candidate, 'withdrew’ from the race in support of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate, Mohamed Tupi.
Mr Fayo’s move came a day after NEDP party leader Mike Sonko concluded three days of intense campaigning where he dished out goodies worth millions.
Mr Sonko dished out cash, gave food and bedding to orphanages, donated mats, solar panels and water to mosques, and deployed the Sonko Rescue Team to do charitable acts across the constituency.
The NEDP candidate made the announcement after meeting President William Ruto, alongside UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar and Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo.
Mr Fayo’s move was brokered by Senator Dullo and former Isiolo MP Charfano Mokku.
"To my supporters, my family, and the great people of Isiolo South, leadership is not about the pursuit of a seat, but the progress of a people. After deep reflection and extensive consultation with our elders and the UDA leadership, I have made the decision to step down from the Isiolo South parliamentary race,” Mr Fayo wrote on his Facebook Page.
However, Mr Fayo’s claim that he has withdrawn from the race comes too late since the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has since gazetted him among the contestants.
The NEDP party leader condemned Mr Fayo’s ‘withdrawal', terming it an act of betrayal.
“It is unfortunate that our candidate Isaack Abduba Fayo has betrayed us. Two days ago, he started disappearing from the ground, forcing us to continue with the campaign in his absence,” Mr Sonko said.
While the Jubilee Party is keen on retaining the seat, UDA is out to prove that its popularity at the grassroots remains intact.
Recently, UDA politicians led by the President’s right-hand man, Farouk Kibet, camped in Isiolo South to campaign for their candidate and participate in fundraisers aimed at wooing voters.
Mike Sonko, the former Governor of Nairobi County, speaks outside the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties after the National Economic Development Party, of which he is a member, received its compliance certificate upon fulfilling all registration requirements.
This week, Mr Sonko spent three days in Isiolo South rallying residents to vote for his NEDP candidate. The former Nairobi governor has rolled out Sonko Rescue Team charity programmes in education, drought relief, water provision, and healthcare services, promising to continue if his candidate wins.
“Due to water challenges in Isiolo South, we will donate water tanks and solar panels to all mosques in Isiolo South. My party is committed to ensuring the CDF is effectively utilised to benefit the people of Isiolo South,” Mr Sonko said.
The candidates have now turned to door-to-door engagements as the Ramadan season kicked off on Wednesday.
Tubi, 36, the government-backed candidate, enjoys the support of Borana elders as well as senior politicians, including Governor Abdi Guyo, Senator Fatuma Dullo, former Governor Godana Guyo, and former MPs Charfano Mokku and Abdi Tepo.
Facing political competition from his sister, Tubi maintains he is up to the task and capable of fulfilling the electorate’s aspirations.
“Since I worked closely with my father, I am ready to continue from where he left off. I am committed to improving access to education, enhancing security, and addressing other community challenges,” Mr Tubi said.
The entry of Bina, the second-born daughter of the late Isiolo South MP, unsettled existing political arrangements, signalling a family feud months after her brother was endorsed by the council of elders.
Her candidacy has drawn significant attention, as she is the first woman from her community to vie for a parliamentary seat, defying longstanding cultural norms and a decree from clan elders.
She promises to lobby for the drilling of additional boreholes and the rehabilitation of existing ones to ensure residents have access to clean and safe drinking water.
On education, Bina has pledged to seek funding for a functional school feeding programme to boost enrolment and academic performance.
Jubilee Party secretary general Jeremiah Kioni (left) with the party's candidate for the Isiolo South Parliamentary seat by-election, Bina Mohamed Tupi, the party headquarters in Nairobi on January 15, 2026.
Bina presents herself as the most qualified of the late MP’s children to advance his legacy in the constituency.
“I am following in my father’s footsteps and upholding his legacy by vying for the seat on his political party’s ticket. My father believed in the Jubilee Party and defended it. That is why he remained loyal to the party until his death,” Ms Bina said.
She argues that although she was born and raised in the constituency, her younger brother is an outsider who is unfamiliar with the issues affecting residents.
The three candidates are seeking to win the support of more than 22,000 registered voters in the constituency.
West Kabras Ward
In West Kabras Ward by-elections to replace Mr David Ndakwa, the new Malava MP, UDA’s Elphas Shalakha Kainanga, backed by key Ruto allies led by his aide Farouk Kibet, has seen money, power and influence in his campaigns.
He will face Edward Indimuli of ODM, Bramwel Khaemba Wasike of Mr Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party, Nivah Khisa of Eugene Wamalwa’s Democratic Action Party-Kenya, Masini Shivoko of Democratic National Alliance, and George Mukhwana Musini of National Economic Development Party.
There are 11,699 registered voters in the ward.
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