The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has suspended the Migwani ward by-election in Mwingi West Constituency, Kitui County, after the High Court in Kitui stopped the process for 30 days pending the hearing of a petition.

In a public notice issued on Tuesday, the commission said it was complying with interim conservatory orders issued on October 22, 2026, in Constitutional Petition E011 of 2026, filed by Francis Musili Kauta against the IEBC and three other respondents. The petition is set for hearing on November 11.

"The Commission urges members of the public and all stakeholders to take note of this development. Further updates will be communicated through the Commission's official channels," the IEBC said.

How the seat fell vacant

The ward has been without a Member of the County Assembly since August 6, when the former MCA, Harrison Maluki Mawia, resigned to take up the position of Clerk of the Kitui County Assembly.

The IEBC, under chairperson Erastus Ethekon, later gazetted November 17 as polling day and published timelines for party nominations, campaigns and other electoral activities. Accreditation of journalists and election observers was due to close on October 30.

According to reports by The Star and Kenyans.co.ke, the petition challenges the process that led to the seat being declared vacant. The commission did not set out the specific grounds raised by the petitioner, nor did it announce a fresh date for the poll.

A Wiper-UDA contest put on ice

The mini-poll had drawn interest well beyond the ward. Kalonzo Musyoka's Wiper party and President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) had both stepped up campaigns in Migwani, each keen to show its strength in Ukambani ahead of the 2027 General Election.

For Wiper, the ward offered a chance to defend its dominance in a region long seen as Kalonzo's backyard. For UDA, it was an opportunity to expand its footprint in lower Eastern, where the President has recently stepped up development tours.

The suspension now means:

  • No campaigns or polling can proceed while the court orders are in force.
  • Residents of Migwani will remain without a ward representative in the county assembly for longer.
  • The final fate of the by-election depends on the court's findings after the November 11 hearing.

Political parties and candidates in the race are expected to await the court's directions before deciding on their next steps.

Photos: The Star (IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon, file). Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.