This archive report was first published on 7 November 2019.
On November 7, 2019, the Kibra by-election took place, with 24 candidates vying for the seat, including Jubilee candidate MacDonald Mariga.
However, Mariga did not cast his vote, instead choosing to visit a polling station to show his support.
At Lindi Mosque polling station, Mariga arrived at around 10:30am and wheeled in one of the voters, took photos with his supporters, and went back outside to speak to journalists.
Mariga explained his decision, stating, 'Ni mama nilimpata, mama mlemavu, nikaona wacha nimsaidie, apige kura na ujumbe ambao napeleka kwa watu au wakenya wote na IEBC ni kwamba sisi ambao tumeishi diaspora hatujapatiwa nafasi ya kuwa registered kuwa voters na tuko zaidi ya milioni moja. Naomba IEBC next time watumie mbinu zao na nikiingia bunge hiyo ndio ntapush sana.'
Mariga, who is vying for the seat on a Jubilee ticket, is not registered as a voter in Kibra Constituency but in Starehe.
The electoral commission's Disputes Resolution Tribunal cleared him to vie for the seat on September 16, after his name was initially invalidated due to his absence from the 2017 voters register.
IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati later faulted the returning officer, stating that an updated register from Kariokor Social Hall in Starehe Constituency was not taken into account.
