MAGARINI, KILIFI COUNTY – As the Magarini parliamentary by-election scheduled for Thursday, November 27, 2025, enters its final stretch, Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Stanley Kenga has issued a bold declaration to unseat the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), a party that has long held sway in the coastal constituency. The contest is shaping up to be a crucial litmus test for the region's political alignment ahead of the 2027 general election.

The by-election was precipitated by a Supreme Court ruling on May 31, 2024, which nullified the August 2022 election victory of ODM's Harrison Kombe. The petition was filed by Mr. Kenga, then a member of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), who lost by a razor-thin margin of just 21 votes. The court found merit in Kenga's claims of electoral irregularities, including ballot stuffing, leading the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to schedule a fresh poll.

A National Contest in a Local Race

What would typically be a local affair has morphed into a high-stakes national contest, reflecting the fluid nature of Kenyan political alliances. In a significant political realignment, President William Ruto’s UDA has opted not to field a candidate, instead throwing its weight behind ODM’s Harrison Kombe as the candidate for the “broad-based government.” This alliance also includes the Pamoja African Alliance (PAA), led by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, who has been actively campaigning for Kombe. During a recent campaign stop, Kingi urged residents to reject Kenga, linking him to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, whom he accused of previously opposing coastal leaders' appointments.

This political arrangement forced Stanley Kenga to find a new political home. He defected to the newly formed DCP, led by Gachagua, and was promptly handed the party ticket on October 3, 2025. Kenga is now the flagbearer for the “United Opposition,” a coalition that includes Gachagua's DCP and Kalonzo Musyoka's Wiper Patriotic Front. Top leaders from this coalition, including Musyoka, have been campaigning for Kenga in Magarini, framing the election as a chance for residents to elect a leader who represents change.

Party Platforms and Campaign Promises

Mr. Kenga, a former Kilifi County Assembly Deputy Speaker, has anchored his campaign on the themes of youthfulness, integrity, and development, vowing to address long-standing local issues. Magarini, one of Kilifi County's most impoverished areas, grapples with chronic challenges including unresolved land ownership disputes, food insecurity, and inadequate water infrastructure. Kenga's camp argues that the ODM's long tenure has not translated into tangible development for the residents.

Conversely, the ODM campaign, led by senior party figures like Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir and Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro, is urging voters to give Harrison Kombe another chance to complete his development agenda. They argue that as the candidate for the broad-based government, Kombe is better positioned to channel development resources to the constituency. The by-election is also a critical test for ODM's influence in its traditional coastal stronghold, especially following the death of its iconic leader, Raila Odinga. ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga stated on November 16, 2025, that the by-elections in Magarini and other constituencies are a major test for the party's resilience.

Rigging Allegations and IEBC's Assurance

The intense political contest has not been without controversy. On Monday, November 24, 2025, DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua formally accused IEBC Vice Chairperson Fahima Araphat Abdallah of improper interference in the by-election preparations. In a letter to the commission, Gachagua alleged that the vice chair had intimidated election officials in Magarini on November 21. The IEBC chairperson, Erastus Edung Ethekon, acknowledged the gravity of the allegations but assured all parties that the commission has robust institutional safeguards to ensure a free, fair, and transparent election on November 27.

With ten candidates cleared by the IEBC to contest the seat, the race is set to be competitive. However, the main battle is clearly between Kenga's DCP, representing a new opposition force, and Kombe's ODM, backed by the weight of the state machinery. The outcome on Thursday will not only determine who represents Magarini in the National Assembly but will also offer a significant pointer to the shifting political landscape of the Coast region and Kenya at large.