MAGARINI, KILIFI COUNTY – Kilifi South Member of Parliament, Ken Chonga, was ejected from the Kanagoni polling station in Magarini Constituency on Thursday morning by residents who accused him of being present without official accreditation. The incident occurred amid a high-stakes parliamentary by-election marked by heavy security and intense voter scrutiny.

According to multiple eyewitness accounts and media reports from Thursday, November 27, 2025, Mr. Chonga arrived at the polling centre with the stated intention of observing the voting process. However, a group of voters confronted him, challenging his authority to be inside the station. They alleged he was not an accredited agent for any candidate or party, as required by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) regulations. Tensions escalated quickly, leading to residents chasing the MP away from the premises to prevent what they termed as potential interference. The confrontation concluded without physical violence as Mr. Chonga departed.

The altercation underscores the politically charged atmosphere in Magarini. This by-election was necessitated by a May 31, 2024, Supreme Court ruling that nullified the August 2022 election victory of Harrison Kombe of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). The court found evidence of electoral malpractices, including ballot stuffing and alteration of results, following a petition by Stanley Kenga, who was then with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

In the 2022 contest, Mr. Kombe had been declared the winner by a margin of just 21 votes, securing 11,946 votes against Mr. Kenga's 11,925.

A High-Stakes Coastal Contest

The Thursday, November 27, 2025, poll sees a renewed battle primarily between Mr. Kombe, who received a direct nomination from ODM to reclaim his seat, and Mr. Kenga, now running on the ticket of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP). The election is a significant political test for major political formations in the Coast region. In a notable political realignment, the UDA party opted not to field a candidate, instead joining the Pamoja African Alliance (PAA), led by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, in supporting the ODM candidate, Harrison Kombe.

The IEBC has deployed significant security to Magarini's 193 polling stations to ensure a peaceful process. Joseph Mwafondo, the IEBC Returning Officer for the constituency, confirmed that at least two police officers were stationed at each polling centre, supplemented by a rapid response unit. Ahead of the vote, the commission issued stern warnings against unauthorized persons loitering near polling stations and reiterated that only accredited party agents and official observers are permitted access. The IEBC also cautioned its own staff against collusion with political actors, stating that any official found attempting to manipulate the outcome would face prosecution.

The incident involving MP Chonga was not the only reported irregularity on polling day. The ODM candidate, Harrison Kombe, claimed earlier in the morning that some of his accredited agents had been denied access to several polling stations, an issue the IEBC said it had addressed.

Voting across Magarini and in five other constituencies and one senatorial race nationwide commenced at 6:00 a.m. EAT and was scheduled to close at 5:00 p.m. EAT. The by-elections are seen as a litmus test for the new IEBC commission's preparedness to manage credible elections ahead of the 2027 general election. For the residents of Magarini, the election represents a chance to end a prolonged period without parliamentary representation and address pressing local issues such as land ownership disputes, access to water, and human-wildlife conflict.