When voters stream into polling stations in Emurua Dikirr Constituency, Narok County, this morning for the parliamentary by-election, the outcome will be the product of a titanic battle between President William Ruto and his former deputy-turned-foe, Rigathi Gachagua .
While the President is hopeful his party will retain the seat that fell vacant following the death of former area Member of Parliament Johana Ng’eno, Mr Gachagua’s new party will attempt to pull a surprise and send its first MP to the National Assembly.
Mr Ng’eno died in a helicopter crash on February 28, 2026, in Mosop Constituency, Nandi County. Various causes he used to champion have dominated the campaigns.
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
Poor road networks, lack of good hospitals, failure by the government to provide clean piped water, and the poor state of general infrastructure are issues shaping the election process, with the government accused of abandoning the people after the election.
Mr Ng’eno perished alongside pilot George Were, photojournalist Nick Kosgei, teacher Carlos Kibet Keter, Kenya Forest Service (KFS) ranger Amos Kipngetich Rotich, and a protocol officer at the Narok County government, Wycliff Kiprotich Rono.
The poll has attracted five candidates, with United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party candidate David Kipsang Keter and Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Vincent Rotich considered the frontrunners. The candidates cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for the parliamentary mini-poll are David Kipsang Keter (UDA), Ms Desma Cherono (PNU), Vincent Rotich (DCP), Gideon Koech (NVP) and Kenneth Kiprono (RLP).
The stakes in the by-election are high for President Ruto’s UDA and Mr Gachagua’s DCP parties, as it comes 16 months before the next General Election, with both top politicians seeking to demonstrate their grip on voters in the vast and vote-rich Rift Valley region.
“Emurua Dikirr by-election will be a litmus test for President Ruto’s UDA at a time his grip in Rift Valley has come under scrutiny. The voters in the area are known to revolt against the ruling elite, as demonstrated in past elections,” Nairobi-based advocate Kipkirui Kemboi Kap Telwa said.
“It was clear from the onset that the President, his Deputy and Cabinet Secretaries were not welcomed to campaign in the area as they would all muddy the waters for the UDA candidate,” Mr Kaptelwa added.
Mr Gachagua was initially expected to hit the campaign trail in the area but was advised against it due to security concerns and fears it would claw back ground secured by the DCP candidate.
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
President Ruto, despite having a home in the neighbouring Kilgoris Constituency, did not attend any function in the constituency since the former MP was laid to rest on March 6.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki , who in previous elections led the UDA brigade alongside Cabinet Secretaries, also did not travel to the constituency due to what was described as the volatile situation on the ground.
The UDA top leadership did not campaign in the area, a major break from the party’s campaign manual used in other regions.
Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu, despite being the political top figure in the county, kept off the campaign trail, choosing instead to deploy his deputy Tamalinye Koech to lead the team on the ground.
Mr Ntutu did not previously see eye to eye politically with Mr Keter, as he supported Mr Ngeno, the former MP, in previous elections, and is understood to have backed Mr Bennard Ngeno, the former Personal Assistant to the late MP, in the UDA primaries.
In the UDA primaries, Mr Keter garnered 13,749 votes against Mr Ngeno’s 13,394 votes, with the party registering a turnout of 27,503 voters in nominations held on March 27.
United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party candidate in the Emurua Dikirr Constituency nominations David Keter waits for the results to be announced at Emurua Dikirr Secondary School on March 27, 2026.
Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation Media Group
“I have been sent by my boss, the Governor and UDA officials to campaign alongside our candidate (Keter) ahead of the by-election on Thursday. We have gained a lot of ground and I am confident we will deliver the seat,” Mr Tamalinye said on Monday.
Mr Gachagua’s DCP was buoyed by the recent win in the Narok Town civic by-election, where the party’s candidate caused an upset against the UDA candidate.
“The fact that UDA top guns did not travel to Emurua Dikirr to campaign speaks to the political undercurrents in the region and a total change of strategy in the campaigns,” businessman and political commentator Paul Ole Montet said.
“None of the local MPs joined the campaign trail as the locals demanded to conduct their own campaigns devoid of interference from external forces. The residents were actually hostile to outsiders,” Mr Montet said.
Cabinet Secretary for Defence Soipan Tuya, Narok Woman Representative Rebecca Tonkei, and nominated Senator Joyce Korir only attended a women’s empowerment fundraising in the area three weeks ago.
In the Narok Town civic by-election in November 2025, Mr Douglas Twala Masikonte trounced the UDA candidate and former MCA Robert Kanyinke Ole Kudate, garnering 6,007 votes against 4,479 votes, in what Mr Gachagua’s team are hoping to replicate in Emurua Dikirr.
However, UDA, aware of the risk of losing the seat, has gone flat out to conduct house-to-house campaigns in the area to ensure it retains the position it held before the helicopter crash.
During the funeral service for the late Ngeno at Emurua Dikirr Primary School grounds on March 6, 2026, President Ruto announced his administration would resettle 12,000 families evicted from Mau Forest complex, with the government set to purchase a total of 7,500 acres of land to address historical land injustices.
President William Ruto.
Photo credit: PCS
Dr Ruto also gave Sh20 million towards the purchase of land for a university that was proposed by the late MP.
“The Ministry of Lands and Housing will set aside Sh750 million for the construction of hostels at the proposed university college,” Dr Ruto said at the time.
The President said the government was in advanced stages of purchasing 5,000 acres belonging to former Provincial Commissioner Isaiah Cheluget’s family, and 1,500 acres in Angata Barikoi for the resettlement of landless people.
He revealed that a total of 2,000 families who lived in internally displaced persons camps had been paid Sh300,000 each for resettlement.
The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Emurua Dikirr campus, which was constructed by the MP using Constituency Development Fund (CDF) money, will be expanded and equipped at a cost of Sh200 million.
“The Chebole–Siongiroi–Chebunyo–Dikirr road will be constructed from scratch and upgraded by the Department of Roads, in a process that is currently at the tendering stage,” Dr Ruto said.
The dilapidated Mogondo–Soiit road is also set for reconstruction as part of infrastructure upgrades in the region.
A portrait of Emuua Dikirr Member of Parliament the late Johana Ng’eno.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
A total of 94 primary schools being used by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as polling stations in Emurua Dikirr will be closed on Thursday.
As part of security measures, supporters of candidates will not be allowed into the Mogondo Technical Training Institute tallying centre, according to IEBC and the Ministry of Interior.
Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Abdi Hassan and IEBC Returning Officer Caleb Kegonde confirmed that learning institutions will be closed for the safety of pupils.
“We will be using 94 public primary schools which will be closed during the Thursday by-election as learning would be disrupted. It only applies to public day schools, but not boarding ones,” Mr Kegonde said.
Mr Kegonde said IEBC had worked with the Ministry of Education and other agencies ahead of the by-election in a constituency with 44,457 registered voters.
Dr Hassan said the government will ensure safety in schools used as polling stations in Mogondo, Kapsasian, Elkerin and Ololmasani wards.
He assured residents that adequate security measures had been put in place across Emurua Dikirr and in parallel by-elections in Poro Ward in Samburu and Endoo Ward in Elgeyo Marakwet.
Dr Hassan said voters would not be allowed to linger at polling stations after voting and must leave immediately.
“Those who will defy the directives from the security team will face the full force of the law,” he said.
“Security agencies are under firm instructions to deal with anyone attempting to disrupt the electoral process,” he added, flanked by Rift Valley Regional Police Commander Samwel Ndanyi and Narok County Commissioner Kipkech Lotiati.
Mr Kegonde assured the public that the poll would be free, fair, transparent and credible, saying the will of the people would prevail.
“There are a few hotspots, but security agencies have put adequate measures in place,” he said.
“There are emerging security issues that have made the Commission decide that only candidates, chief agents and tallying agents will be allowed into the tallying centre. Even police officers not on duty will not be allowed,” he said.
He confirmed campaigns ended 48 hours before polling day as required, and candidates had complied with electoral regulations.
