NAIROBI – The contest for the Magarini parliamentary seat has intensified, escalating from a local race into a significant national showdown that is testing Kenya's evolving political alliances. The by-election, scheduled by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for Thursday, November 27, 2025, pits the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) against a newly energized opposition, with major political figures converging on the coastal constituency.

Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa announced that the United Opposition coalition will hold a major campaign rally in Magarini on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. This move signals a direct challenge to ODM in one of its traditional strongholds and, more pointedly, to the “broad-based government” cooperation pact between President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the ODM party.

A High-Stakes Electoral Test

The Magarini seat became vacant after the Supreme Court, on May 31, 2024, nullified the August 2022 election victory of ODM's Harrison Kombe. The court found merit in a petition filed by his then-UDA rival, Stanley Kenga, citing electoral malpractices, including ballot stuffing. In the 2022 poll, Kombe had won by a razor-thin margin of just 21 votes.

In a dramatic realignment of political forces, ODM has once again awarded Kombe a direct nomination ticket to defend the seat. His candidacy is now supported not only by his party but also by former rivals in the Kenya Kwanza coalition, including President Ruto's UDA and the Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) party, led by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi. This joint support is being presented as a cornerstone of the broad-based government arrangement aimed at fostering national unity. Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro and Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir are among the senior ODM figures actively campaigning for Kombe's return to Parliament.

Conversely, Stanley Kenga, the successful petitioner, is now contesting under the banner of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), a party led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The United Opposition, which includes DAP-K and DCP, views the Magarini contest as a crucial opportunity to counter the government-opposition alliance and establish its own political foothold ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Implications for Kilifi and National Politics

The by-election is widely seen as a litmus test for ODM's influence in the Coast region, particularly following the death of its long-time leader, Raila Odinga. Party leaders have framed the election as a crucial moment to honour his legacy by retaining the seat. ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga stated on November 16, 2025, that the by-elections in Magarini, Kasipul, and Ugunja are a major test for the party, with critics watching closely for any signs of weakness.

The IEBC has cleared at least ten candidates to contest the seat, ensuring a competitive race. The official campaign period, which began on October 8, will conclude on November 24. The National Police Service has assured the public of a robust security plan to ensure a peaceful process, a critical measure given that campaign activities in other concurrent by-elections, such as in Kasipul, have been marred by violence.

For the residents of Magarini, the election marks the end of a prolonged period without parliamentary representation since the court nullified the 2022 result. The outcome on November 27 will not only determine their local leadership but will also send ripples across the national political landscape, signaling the strength of the new alliances and the shifting loyalties of Kenya's political elite.