Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) has called for the resignation of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Vice Chairperson Fahima Araphat Abdallah.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon dated November 24, 2025, the DCP Party Leader has accused the IEBC official of interfering with the upcoming Magarini Constituency by-election scheduled for November 27, 2025.
He alleges that Fahima acted “with utmost impunity” to manipulate the electoral process.
“My attention is drawn to the role self-assigned and reckless conduct of your Vice Chairperson Fahima Araphat Abdallah, OGW, with utmost impunity to meddle and bungle the Magarini Constituency by-elections for the 27th November, 2025.”
Abdallah allegedly oversaw the management of the poll through corruption and the intimidation of electoral officials, according to the letter.
The DCP leader, cited a specific incident on November 21, when Abdallah reportedly visited Magarini accompanied by Atulal Mukwana.
According to Gachagua, Abdallah bullied and harassed presiding officers and other officials, before allegedly holding a meeting later at the Boutique Hotel in Kilifi with Governor Gideon Mung’aro, where a bribery negotiation allegedly took place.
DCP argues that Abdallah’s actions go against IEBC’s policy of not deploying commissioners or officers from their home regions during elections.
“Fahima Araphat Abdallah, is on a reckless spree to bungle a by-election. This is totally unacceptable. This casts every doubt of how you (Erastus Edung Ekthon) will conduct the 2027 elections.”
The party insists this policy is designed to prevent favouritism and ensure impartiality in electoral management.
DCP has demanded that all presiding officers in Magarini constituency should be replaced immediately.
The party has further called for Fahima Abdallah to be barred from interfering in the Magarini by-election and any other elections within Kenya.
“Mr. Chairman, Erastus Edung Ethekon, the 2027 General Elections in Kenya will be an emotive election; you live in Kenya and you can judge the mood of the country; do not feign ignorance.”
DCP has also urged IEBC to safeguard electoral officials and Magarini from harassment and intimidation by the Vice Chairperson.
Most importantly, DCP insists on a full investigation into Fahima Abdallah’s conduct and demands her immediate removal as IEBC Vice Chairperson and Commissioner.
In the letter, Gachagua cautioned that Kenya risks descending into anarchy if electoral integrity is compromised, and urged IEBC to uphold democratic principles and avoid any sense of abandonment of duty.
The DCP leader asked the commission to act fairly in Magarini and avoid rumors, saying future elections will only be trusted if action is taken now.
The party pointed out that failure to act could erode public trust ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“If an IEBC Commissioner can be involved in electoral malpractice this early, how can we trust IEBC with the 2027 General Elections?”
Magarini is a competitive seat in Kilifi, often attracting strong candidates from major parties and independents, with the current by-election being seen as a test run ahead of the 2027 General Election, making it politically sensitive.
Meanwhile, the upcoming by-elections will fill seats left vacant due to resignations, court rulings, or the deaths of previous officeholders. Top politicians are taking the by-elections seriously because their outcome could determine how Kenyans are going to vote in the 2027 General Election.
High-stakes by-elections seen as 2027 political litmus test for Ruto, United Opposition
The constituencies of Mbeere North, Kasipul, Magarini and Malava are like any other more than 200 electoral units designated by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission across the country.
However, on Thursday this week, the outcome of political contests in the by-election in these electoral units could determine the trajectory of politics in the next General Election.
Political pundits view the November 27 by-elections as the first showdown between President William Ruto’s broad-based government and the United Opposition, stitched together by his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, ahead of the 2027 General Election.
They argue that the mini-polls will become a national litmus test, pitting the broad-based government against a newly united opposition led by Gachagua and bolstered by Kalonzo Musyoka, Fred Matiang’i, Eugene Wamalwa, Martha Karua, George Natembeya, Justin Muturi, among others.
The elections will be held on the same day for the Senate seat in Baringo County and for the National Assembly seats in Banissa, Kasipul, Magarini, Malava, Mbeere North, and Ugunja constituencies.
According to Amnesty International Kenya, these by-elections could serve as the most important stress test of the country’s electoral system before 2027.
“By the end of November, Kenyans will be able to measure voter confidence in the process, the independence and professionalism of the electoral commission and police, the capacity of political parties to deploy agents, and the effectiveness of civic actors in observing and safeguarding electoral integrity,” Amnesty International Kenya said.
In Mbeere North constituency, the campaign has intensified into a high-stakes political contest between Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Gachagua.
Gachagua is rallying support for Democratic Party (DP) candidate Newton Kariuki Ndegwa, while Prof. Kindiki is backing UDA candidate Leonard Muriuki Wamuthende.
Gachagua argues that defeating the UDA candidate would send President Ruto a clear message that he has lost the support of a voter-rich region of Mt Kenya, which overwhelmingly backed him during the 2022 General Election.
The parliamentary seat for Mbeere North constituency became vacant after Geoffrey Ruku assumed the role of Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes.
Both Deputy President Prof Kindiki and his predecessor, Gachagua, are aiming to strengthen their influence and assert dominance over the votes in the Mt. Kenya region.
In Ugunja constituency, ODM is poised for an easy victory in its own heartland. Its candidate, Moses Omondi, who is supported by the broad-based government, is favoured to succeed Opiyo Wandayi, who is currently serving as Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum. However, in the Kasipul constituency, the Movement is expected to face a severe credibility test, as its candidate, Boyd Were, is locked in a tight race against independent contender Philip Aroko.
In Western Kenya, the Malava parliamentary seat is also another battleground between UDA and the United Opposition. On the UDA side, President Ruto’s confidant, Farouk Kibet, is leading the campaign for the broad-based government’s candidate, David Ndakwa. He is facing Seth Panyako of the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K).
The Malava by-election is a significant test for Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi because its outcome will serve as a litmus test of his political influence and ability to deliver votes for the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party in the Western Kenya region ahead of the 2027 polls.
The by-election has become a proxy war with other political players in the region, such as DAP-K leader George Natembeya, who is backing a rival candidate (Seth Panyako). The result will help determine who holds the actual sway over the "Luhya vote".
In Kasipul, politics has taken a new dimension after Homa Bay Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga endorsed an Independent candidate.
Magwanga defied his boss, Governor Gladys Wanga, who is apparently leading campaigns for ODM candidate Boyd Were. Wanga is the national chairperson of ODM, and the party had instructed members to support its candidate.
The deputy governor, who was elected on a joint ticket with Wanga, defied the party and endorsed Philip Aroko's candidacy.
The upcoming by-elections arrive amid heightened public attention on the IEBC following recent political disputes and legal challenges over election management.
A well-managed process, the commission hopes, will strengthen confidence in its ability to deliver credible polls.
