Voting in the Magarini Constituency by-election was marked by early controversy on Thursday, November 27, 2025, after Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate Harrison Kombe reported that his accredited party agents were denied access to the Mjanaheri Primary School polling station. The incident, which occurred shortly after polls opened at 6:00 AM EAT, prompted Kombe to publicly question the transparency and fairness of the electoral exercise being managed by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

"We have received reports that our agents at Mjanaheri Primary School were blocked from entering the polling station this morning," Kombe stated while speaking to the press. "This action undermines the integrity of the process. An election cannot be deemed transparent if representatives of candidates are barred from observing the proceedings as required by law."

The reason for the alleged denial of access remains unclear. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.

Under Kenyan electoral law, every political party and candidate participating in an election is entitled to have one accredited agent present at each polling station. The role of these agents is to observe the voting and counting processes to ensure they are conducted in a free, fair, and credible manner, thereby safeguarding the interests of their candidate or party.

A High-Stakes Contest with a Contentious History

The Magarini by-election is being held under a tense political atmosphere, largely due to the circumstances that necessitated it. The poll was ordered by the Supreme Court of Kenya after it upheld the nullification of Kombe's victory in the August 2022 General Election. The petition was initially filed by his main rival, Stanley Kenga, then of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), who lost by a razor-thin margin of just 21 votes. The courts found that the 2022 election in the constituency was marred by irregularities.

This history has placed the IEBC's conduct under intense scrutiny from all stakeholders. The lead-up to the Thursday vote was characterized by accusations of planned electoral malpractice. On Monday, November 24, 2025, Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua formally wrote to the IEBC, alleging that the commission's Vice Chairperson, Fahima Araphat Abdallah, was attempting to interfere with the by-election's preparations to favour a specific candidate.

In a public response on the same day, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon described the allegations as "weighty" but assured the public that robust institutional safeguards were in place to protect the integrity of the poll. The commission dismissed the claims of interference, stating its "unwavering commitment to delivering the Magarini By-Election in a free, fair, transparent and credible manner."

IEBC Assurances and On-the-Ground Realities

On the eve of the by-election, Wednesday, November 26, 2025, the IEBC issued a final statement confirming all preparations were complete. The commission assured the nation that election materials, polling officials, and security personnel had been dispatched and were ready for the 6:00 AM poll opening. The IEBC also issued a stern warning against unlawful activities, such as photographing marked ballot papers, to protect the secrecy of the vote.

Despite these assurances, the incident at Mjanaheri Primary School has cast an early shadow over the process. The by-election sees Kombe, who received a direct nomination from ODM, as a front-runner. His bid was further boosted just two days before the poll when the Kenya Social Congress (KSC) candidate, John Masha, stepped down and endorsed him. Ten candidates were officially cleared by the IEBC to contest the seat.

The developing situation in Magarini is being closely monitored by election observers and political stakeholders. The IEBC has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the specific incident involving the ODM agents. The outcome of this by-election is considered a significant political barometer for the Coast region, testing ODM's continued influence and the IEBC's capacity to conduct a credible election free from the errors of the past.