Whatever the outcome of the Emurua Dikirr constituency by-election, the stakes were high for the main contenders, United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), because of the symbolic political statement going into next year’s elections.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua took the battle to President William Ruto's Rift Valley stronghold, sponsoring a strong DCP candidate, hoping to win the first parliamentary seat in the perceived turf of his former boss.
And for UDA, which faced apparent hostility during campaigns, forcing the party and government top brass to stay away, an unusual strategy given heavy State involvement in the five of the eight parliamentary by-elections that the ruling party has won recently, it had to win the seat by all means.
It was a high-octane campaign, which all the big shots from all political parties avoided, pointing to the volatility of a constituency whose other name is defiance.
Voters at Kabolecho Primary School polling station during the Emurua Dikirr by-election on May 14, 2026.
Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation Media Group
By venturing out to field a candidate via his Democrats for Citizens Party (DCP), Mr Gachagua, a man whose critics like to dismiss as a tribalist, was making a statement whose impact will be analysed for days or weeks to come. He wanted to cause an upset and show that the party often branded as rooted in his Mt Kenya region could venture out.
As the 94 polling stations closed and the votes were counted, all eyes were on the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the DCP parties, with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) facing an acid test of transparency and accountability.
Ahead of the 2027 general election, the two parties are seeking to make a major statement, with President Ruto and Mr Gachagua pulling strings for their candidates behind the scenes.
Dr Ruto was keen to demonstrate that he remains the undisputed king of the Valley, whereas for the former deputy president, it was a chance to prove to the world that even the president’s own people had rejected him — a platform he could then use to promote the Wantam agenda across the country.
The 44,457 voters in the Emurua Dikirr constituency of Narok county went to the polls to elect the successor of former three term lawmaker Johana Ng'eno who died a few months ago.
Emurua Dikirr Member of Parliament Johana Ng’eno during an event in Embu County on November 12, 2023.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi | Nation Media Group
In the helicopter crash, Ng’eno died alongside the pilot - George Were, photojournalist Nick Kosgei, a teacher Carlos Kibet Keter, a Kenya Forest Services (KFS) Ranger Amos Kipng’etich Rotich and a protocol officer at the Narok County government Wycliffe Kiprotich Rono.
The candidates cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) are - David Kipsang Keter (UDA), Desma Cherono (PNU), Vincent Rotich (DCP) and Gideon Koech (NVP), Kenneth Kiprono (RLP).
Emurua Dikirr residents are not known to fall for political euphoria, they do not fear going against the grain at the ballot. UDA machinery was fighting hard last evening to bag the crown, what should have been easily theirs-one would have thought.
The locals fought for years for the creation of the constituency which was carved out of the neighbouring Kilgoris constituency, finally having their way ahead of the 2013 general election.
In the 2013 poll, Ngeno was elected as the first MP in what was seen as an appreciation for his consistent push for the rights of the locals who are members of the Kipsigis community, who settled in the 1960s in the area then inhabited mostly by the Maasai community.
Being the first MP in an area that was seen to have been sidelined in the Narok county development agenda, Mr Ngeno had to take a vocal position on many issues affecting his constituents.
As a result, he carved a name for himself in human rights issues and was known as a key proponent for the demarcation of land and issuance of title deeds- which he fought for to the end.
The late Ngeno stood up to former President Uhuru Kenyatta and President Ruto on the resettlement of the Mau evictees, issuance of land title deeds and general lack of development in the area.
President Ruto repeatedly tried in vain to have Ngeno voted out after he chose a fringe party to defend his seat and went on to cause an upset.
In 2013, Ngeno was elected in a Kenya National Congress (KNC) party, then Kanu in 2017 and United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party in 2022.
The former legislator repeatedly stated before his death that he would be seeking re-election for the first time using the same political party (UDA) ticket.
All the candidates and the residents agree that the area has lacked development for decades and whoever wins should address the issues relating to poor state of roads, lack of hospitals and clean piped water.
The government is constructing two markets – one each at Emurua Dikirr and Mamboleo trading centres, in what is seen as having been influenced by the former MP who was the Departmental Committee chairman on Housing at the National Assembly.
“It is true, the roads are impassable in the area and if elected, I will work with the government to improve the infrastructural facilities so that the people, who are a farming community, will be able to take their goods to the market in good time” Mr Keter said.
Emurua Dikirr UDA candidate David Keter votes at Chelemei Primary School polling stations in Kapsasain ward on May 14, 2026.
Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation Media Group
Mr Rotich said: “The government has neglected Emurua Dikir over the years and the locals are fed up. They will use this by election as a means to tell those in power that their numbers count and their voice should be heard by governments.”
President William Ruto is understood to be keen on having UDA retain the seat in order to demonstrate that he still has a grip in the region ahead of the 2027 general election.
Dr Ruto said recently in the neighbouring Bomet county that he was worried by the failure by the residents of Rift Valley region to register in large numbers in the recently concluded IEBC enhanced registration exercise.
“I am urging you to register in large numbers in the ongoing exercise. I am surprised that you have not registered as expected in the exercise that has been concluded. It is not a very good thing for me” Dr Ruto said.
President Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Cabinet secretaries kept off the campaigns, so too did Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu and local Member of Parliament.
Mr Gachagua and his team also kept off the constituency that is a political hotbed with locals demanding that they conduct their campaigns locally without outside interference.
Fight between UDA and DCP supporters
On Thursday, four people were injured when supporters of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) candidates in the Emurua Dikirr by-elections clashed as voting was in progress.
The clash took place a short distance from Chelemei and Kiribwet polling stations in Kapsasian ward according to the police, with the victims being rushed to various hospitals for treatment.
Narok County Police Commander Patrick Lobolia confirmed the fight between the UDA and DCP supporters as the candidates called for calm and improved security to curb escalation of tension in the area.
One of the victims was treated at a hospital in Chebunyo trading centre in the neighbouring Bomet county while two others were treated at Emurua Dikirr sub county hospitals.
“Following the incidents, one of the victims have recorded a statement with the police while the others have not. They were taken to hospital for treatment following the cuts they sustained in their hands” Mr Lobolia said.
He said one of the victims was injured by a Somali sword he was carrying, as the opponents allegedly sought to disarm him during the scuffle.
Mr Lobolia said security had been beefed up in all the polling stations and generally in the constituency, to avert any further clash by the supporters of the candidates in the area.
Mr David Kipsang Keter, the UDA candidate and Mr Vincent Rotich of DCP called for restraint among their supporters following the attacks that happened outside the polling stations, but were contained before it could further flare up.
A fight between supporters of the two candidates also broke out on Monday night, on the last day of the campaigns with Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Dr Abdi Hassan and Regional Police Commander Samuel Ndanyi saying security had been beefed up as result.
Mr Keter and Mr Rotich are seen as the top candidates in the race that is seen as a political contest between President William Ruto and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
“Several of our supporters have been injured after being targeted for attack, especially in the Kapsasian ward. I want to tell my competitor (Keter) to restrain his supporters and stop attacking our agents in targeted polling stations” Mr Rotich said.
DCP party leader Rigathi Gachagua (right) with his deputy Cleophas Malala (centre) present a nomination certificate to Vincent Rotich during the issuance of party tickets for the Emurua Dikirr parliamentary by-election at the DCP headquarters, Nairobi on April 7, 2026.
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media Group
“What we want is a peaceful poll and the will of the people to prevail. We have exercised a lot of restraint despite the high-level provocation that has been targeted at my agents and supporters in the various polling stations,” he said.
“We have the ability to retaliate and paralyze operations in the polling stations, but we have chosen to embrace peace as we do not want to be blamed for the chaos” Mr Rotich said as he called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to ensure the election rules were adhered to.
Mr Keter said the clash was unfortunate and called on the supporters on both political divides to exercise restrained, cast their votes and wait for the results.
“In the end, the people of Emurua Dikirr will elect the preferred candidate to be their next MP, who will represent everyone and bring peace in the area. What the people want is development, not violence” Mr Keter said.
Mr Keter said the police should ensure that as the voting progresses and after the polling stations are closed, peace prevails in all the 94 polling stations.
