The United Democratic Alliance secured a clean sweep in Wednesday’s by-elections, capturing all four contested seats in polls marked by low voter turnout. The most closely watched race was in Isiolo South constituency, where voters elected a new Member of Parliament following the death of the area legislator.
President William Ruto commended the candidates for emerging victorious in the exercise which was conducted on Thursday.
Thank you Isiolo South, West Kabras, Muminji, and Evurore for standing firmly with the United Democratic Alliance in yesterday’s by-elections. We are firmly on course to building a solid national political party whose vision goes beyond generations as we move Kenya to the first-world,"he said on Friday.
Mohammed Tubi of UDA won the Isiolo South parliamentary seat after garnering 7,352 votes. His closest challenger, Bina Tubi of the Jubilee Party, received 634 votes, while independent candidate Isaac Abduba managed 44 votes.
The results were announced after ballots from all 60 polling stations were counted, handing UDA a decisive victory and reinforcing its influence in the region.
Isiolo South constituency has 22,181 registered voters. The mini-poll drew attention both within the county and across the country due to the unique political setting surrounding the contest.
The parliamentary seat became vacant after the death of former MP Mohamed Tubi Bidu. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission declared the position vacant following his death on November 12 last year while he was undergoing treatment in Nairobi. Bidu had been elected during the August 2022 General Election on a Jubilee Party ticket and was seen as a key political figure in Isiolo South.
The by-election also stood out because it featured a rare family contest. Mohammed Tubi and Bina Mohammed, both children of the late Mohamed Tubi, faced each other in a tight race that stirred debate across the constituency. Despite their shared background and political roots, neither stepped down, turning the campaign into a closely followed battle among residents.
During the campaign period, Tubi Mohammed expressed confidence in winning the seat. He praised the preparations made by IEBC and called on voters to participate in large numbers, stressing the role of citizens in shaping the future of the constituency.
The February 26 exercise extended beyond Isiolo South. In Embu county, Duncan Muratia won the Evurore seat with 7,853 votes, while Peterson Njeru secured the Muminji ward position after receiving 3,207 votes.
In Kakamega county, Elphas Shalakha clinched the West Kabras ward seat in Malava constituency with 3,317 votes, filling a vacancy in the county assembly.
With victories in Isiolo South, Evurore, Muminji and West Kabras, UDA emerged as the clear winner of the by-elections, strengthening its hold in the contested areas despite the low voter turnout recorded during the exercise.
