By Anderson Ojwang
From 6:00 a.m. today, all polling stations for the 22 by-elections—both parliamentary and Member of County Assembly—opened their doors.
And by 5:00 p.m. today, the examiners will call order to declare the end of the exams, and marking will commence immediately to ascertain the winners.
For President William Ruto, he has his eyes on Malava, Magarini, Mbeere North, Ugunja and Kasipul, where the broad-based candidates faced off with the United Opposition, and this could usher in a major realignment ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
President Ruto, who did not participate in the campaigns, had delegated the responsibility to his lieutenants and delivered to them all the resources they required for the exercise.
For the President, the message was simple and clear: you have what you need to deliver—go out and bring victory. Now the President is waiting for the results this evening.
President Ruto had delegated the tutorial roles to his deputy, Prof. Abraham Kithure Kindiki, to oversee the preparation of the Mbeere North student, Leonard Wamuthende, against rival Newton Karish of DP.
In Mbeere North, Kindiki staged a high-voltage campaign against his sworn and bitter rival, immediate former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
As the President’s deputy and main point man in the Mt. Kenya region, Kindiki must ensure his student passes the exams and retains the bragging rights for the Murima.
He had the duty to deconstruct the narrative that the restive Mt. Kenya region had slid away from Ruto, whom they supported in the 2022 presidential election.
Kindiki wrote on his X handle: “To the great people of Mbeere North, thank you for the hospitality and the audience that you accorded UDA candidate Leo Wamuthende throughout the campaign.
Ahead of the Thursday by-election, that declaration was cemented today as Leo made his final submissions at Gitiburi grounds. Asanteni sana Mbeere North.”
But DP party leader JB Muturi was also on the ground to supervise and give encouragement to his student, Karish, as he wrote the exams.
In one of the clips that went viral, Muturi was captured grabbing a youth.
He wrote on his X handle: “We have just left Siakago polling station, where voters are turning out with courage and clarity. I am here to ensure they are protected, respected, and allowed to exercise their democratic right without interference, intimidation, or unlawful conduct.
Mbeere has spoken before. Mbeere will speak again. And today the ballot will speak.”
In Malava Constituency, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula were leading the UDA candidate David Ndakwa against DAP-K’s Seth Panyako, fronted by Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya.
President Ruto wants to consolidate the Western votes and hopes Wetang’ula and Mudavadi will lead in the pursuit.
Wetang’ula wrote on his X handle: “This morning I cast my vote at Namakhele Primary School during the Chwele-Kabuchai ward by-elections.
I urged our residents to come out in large numbers and exercise their democratic right without fear, assuring them that adequate security officers have been deployed across the area.
I also encouraged voters to remain vigilant and promptly report any unusual or suspicious activities to the authorities.”
The ward and the Malava seats are a do-or-die for Wetang’ula and Mudavadi, and any slip would be politically costly and give Natembeya and his team from the Luhya community additional impetus to take charge of the community’s political dispensation heading into the 2027 general elections.
In Kasipul, President Ruto will be watching keenly whether the ODM national chairperson and also Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga still calls the shots in the region’s politics in the post-Raila political realignment.
Wanga is facing a combined force from her deputy Oyugi Magwanga, former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, former Migori Governor Okoth Obado, among others.
Wanga is fronting ODM candidate Boyd Were, son of the immediate former MP, the slain Charles Ongondo Were, against independent candidate Philip Aroko.
But Wanga’s key campaigner and ally, Homa Bay MP Opondo Kaluma, suffered the wrath of political violence when he went to observe the administration of the exams.
Wanga wrote on her X handle: “A powerful conclusion to a historic campaign. At Obisa grounds, we made our final stand for the future of Kasipul— a future built on tolerance, justice, and the non-negotiable priority of quality education. The choice is clear. On Thursday, let’s unite and make our voice heard for one leader with the resolve to deliver.”
IEBC urged the electorate to turn out and vote and wrote on its X handle: “To all voters in the 22 by-election areas, your participation matters. We encourage you to turn out in large numbers and peacefully exercise your democratic rights.”
