This archive report was first published on 6 November 2019.
Kibra By-Election: Ruto and Raila's Political Showdown ¶
The Kibra by-election is set to take place on November 6, 2019, with a total of 24 candidates vying for the seat.
According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the Kibra constituency has a total of 118,658 registered voters, spread across five wards: Laini Saba (17,455), Lindi (16,688), Makina (25,695), Woodley/Kenyatta Golf Course (28,066), and Sarangombe (30,754).
The by-election was triggered by the death of Ken Okoth, the former MP for Kibra, who passed away in August 2019.
The main contenders for the seat are Imran Okoth, the brother of the late Ken Okoth and a candidate of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), and McDonald Mariga, a candidate of the Jubilee Party and a close ally of Deputy President William Ruto.
The two candidates have been engaged in a fierce campaign, with each side trying to outdo the other in terms of popularity and voter turnout.
The IEBC has set a 21-day campaign period, which will come to an end on November 5, 2019. The voting will take place on November 6, 2019, with the results expected to be announced on the same day.
The Kibra by-election is seen as a crucial test of the popularity of the two main parties, the Jubilee Party and the ODM, ahead of the 2022 general elections.
