The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has drawn a line in the sand ahead of the West Kabras by-election, warning candidates that the era of "thuggery and goons" is over. In a tense stakeholder meeting, election officials put all aspirants on notice: incite violence, and you will be disqualified instantly.

The West Kabras seat, left vacant following the tragic demise of the former MCA, has attracted a swarm of candidates, turning the quiet ward into a political battlefield. Intelligence reports suggest that rival camps are already mobilizing youth gangs, raising fears of a repeat of the chaos seen in previous mini-polls.

"We Are Watching You"

"We have deployed monitoring teams in every village," the Returning Officer warned. "Do not think you can hide behind your party leaders. If we catch you bribing voters or arming militias, you will not be on the ballot paper. This is a democratic exercise, not a gang war."

• The Hotspots: Security has been beefed up in known flashpoints where inter-clan rivalries often turn bloody.
• The Promise: The commission has guaranteed a free, fair, and credible process, utilizing the latest KIEMS kit technology.

The Stakes

The by-election is seen as a litmus test for the region's political kingpins. A win here is about bragging rights and momentum ahead of the 2027 general election. For the voters of West Kabras, however, the priority is simple: they want a leader who will fix the roads and dispensaries, not one who will turn their home into a crime scene.

As campaigns officially kick off, the IEBC's tough talk will be put to the test. Will the politicians heed the call for peace, or will the lure of power prove too strong to resist?