Businessman David Kipsang Keter, a three-time opponent of former MP Johana Ng’eno, has won the Emurua Dikirr United Democratic Alliance (UDA) parliamentary party ticket after a nomination process in 96 polling stations on Friday.
Mr Keter garnered 13,759 votes against, Bernard Kipkoech Ng’eno, the former MP’s personal assistant, who got 13,394 votes in a hotly contested poll in a constituency that is a political hotbed.
UDA National Election Board Vice chairperson Veronica Chebet, who oversaw the tallying, confirmed the outcome of the poll at Emurua Dikirr Secondary School hall.
“The voting process has been smooth, free of any ugly incidences. The tallying is complete and the winner has emerged as Mr Keter as per the wishes of the voters,” Ms Chebet said.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has set May 14 as the election date in the constituency with 44,447 registered voters.
The by-election was necessitated by the death of area Member of Parliament Johana Ng’eno in a helicopter crash at Chepkiyep village, Mosop Constituency in Nandi county on February 28, 2026.
The other candidates in the UDA nominations race ahead of the by-election were Kibet Rotich Farouk, Joseph Kiprono Koech and John Saitoti.
Mr Keter’s victory in the UDA primary puts him in pole position to be the constituency’s second MP after it was created in 2013.
United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party candidates in the Emurua Dikirr Constituency nominations David Keter (left) and Kibet Rotich Farouk wait for the results to be announced at Emurua Dikirr Secondary School on March 27, 2026.
Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation Media Group
The late Ng’eno had been the area’s sole MP, having previously failed in a protracted battle to clinch what was then the larger Kilgoris seat in 2007. The constituency would then be created a few years later in the run-up to the 2013 General Election.
Friday’s UDA nominations came amidst claims of bribery, repeat voting and voting by proxy in some of the 94 polling stations, most of which are primary and secondary schools.
A high number of voters arrived at the polling stations in the morning with long queues reported as the residents tried to avoid rains which for the past few days have been pounding the area late in the afternoon.
UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar, National Election Board chairman Anthony Mwaura, his vice chairperson Veronicah Chebet and party Treasurer Japheth Nyakundi (Kitutu Chache North MP) toured the polling stations to address the emerging issues as voting continued.
“The voter turnout is very impressive and speaks volumes of the grassroots support UDA enjoys in the region and across the country ahead of the next general election” Mr Omar said at Soget Primary School polling station.
“The party does not have a preferred candidate in the nomination process and we have left the people of Emurua Dikirr constituency to make their independent choice on who their nominee will be,” Mr Omar added.
Mr Omar and Mr Mwaura expressed confidence that the UDA candidate will carry the day in the May 14, by-election.
The party officials explained that the challenges that arose in the morning, including late delivery of electronic gadgets to polling stations, had been fully addressed.
In some stations, voting started as late as 11am.
“Cases of voter bribery have been reported at Ololmasani and Elkerin civic wards. We have also reported cases of multiple voting by some voters,” Mr Ng’eno said earlier on Friday.
Mr Omar and Mr Mwaura expressed confidence that the UDA candidate will carry the day in the May 14, by-election.
Voters queue at Soget Primary School polling station in Emurua Dikirr Constituency during the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party nominations on March 27, 2026.
Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation Media Group
The party officials explained that the challenges that arose in the morning, including late delivery of electronic gadgets to polling stations, had been fully addressed. In some stations, voting started as late as 11am.
“Cases of voter bribery have been reported at Ololmasani and Elkerin civic wards. We have also reported cases of multiple voting by some voters,” Mr Ng’eno said earlier on Friday.
On his part, Mr Keter had expressed confidence of emerging victorious.
“I am confident the voters will choose me to contest the seat,” he told the Nation earlier in the day. Initially, the nominations had attracted 12 candidates several of whom stepped down.
Among, the candidates who stepped down is Ms Nayianoi Ng’eno, the widow of the former MP and Mr Bernard Rono, an administrator at the Narok County government and a cousin of the late legislator.
Similarly, Mr Ezekiel Sawe, an employee of the Narok county government, and Mr Robert Kipkoech Leguta stepped down in favour of Mr Ng’eno.
