UGUNJA, Kenya – More than 60,000 registered voters in Ugunja Constituency are set to cast their ballots on Thursday, November 27, 2025, to elect their next Member of Parliament. The by-election was prompted by the appointment of the constituency's former representative, Opiyo Wandayi, as the Cabinet Secretary for Energy in President William Ruto's government.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has confirmed its readiness to conduct the poll for the 60,114 registered voters, deploying election materials and personnel across the constituency's polling stations from the tallying centre at Ambira High School. Speaking on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, Ugunja Returning Officer Denis Omari assured the public of a credible and secure process, confirming that the commission will use the 2022 voter register.

The Political Landscape

The election is widely seen as a crucial political test in a region traditionally dominated by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Eleven candidates were cleared by the IEBC to contest the seat. The ODM party has fronted Moses Omondi, the former constituency manager, who is backed by his predecessor, CS Wandayi.

However, the race is competitive, with several other candidates mounting significant campaigns. These include Chris Budo running on a KANU ticket, who has focused on economic empowerment, and Orodi Odhiambo of the Wiper Democratic Movement, who is campaigning as a technocrat capable of enhancing development. The contest also features Lilian Akinyi of the National Alliance Party, who has centred her campaign on gender inclusion and social empowerment.

A significant factor in this by-election is the decision by President Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party not to field a candidate. During a visit to Siaya County, the President announced that the Kenya Kwanza coalition had agreed with ODM to support a single candidate, a move aimed at fostering national unity. Despite this high-level pact, local dynamics have created a complex race, with some analysts noting that Omondi faces a challenge from rivals framing him as an outsider imposed on the constituency. The campaign period has not been without incident; clashes at an ODM rally reportedly left three people with gunshot wounds, prompting calls for peace from various political leaders.

New Electoral Technology Deployed

In a notable technological advancement, the IEBC will activate facial recognition as a voter identification method for the first time in a by-election. Returning Officer Denis Omari stated that while the feature was available in the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS) kits in 2022, it was not used.

“If fingerprint identification fails, the KIEMS kit will authenticate a voter through their face,” Omari explained on November 26. He stressed that only voters whose details appear in the KIEMS kit will be permitted to vote, reinforcing the commission's commitment to electoral integrity. This deployment aligns with the IEBC's broader strategy of enhancing biometric voter systems, which has recently included the introduction of iris scans in the national continuous voter registration drive.

The IEBC and national security agencies have assured voters of their safety, with a significant deployment of police officers to man all polling centres and conduct patrols to prevent disruptions. The poll is a key moment for the residents of Ugunja and a barometer for the evolving political alliances in the Nyanza region ahead of the 2027 General Election.