All set for West Kabras by-election as 11,699 voters head to the polls

The stage is set for the West Kabras by-election scheduled to take place tomorrow, February 26, 2026, to elect their ward representative.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Malava Constituency Returning Officer, Salim Abdallah, while addressing the press on its preparedness ahead of tomorrow’s exercise, assured the public that all was set for the polling process within West Kabras Ward.

The IEBC official confirmed that they had already approved 25 polling centres within the ward, with 11,699 voters expected to cast their votes to elect their preferred candidate.

The West Kabras seat has so far attracted six candidates, including Elphas Shalakha (UDA), Bramwel Wasike Khaemba (DCP), Niva Musa (DAP Kenya), Shivoko Masini (DNA), George Musini (NEDP) and Edward Inzofu Indumuli. The seat fell vacant after the then incumbent MCA, David Ndakwa, contested and won the Malava parliamentary seat, which had been left vacant following the death of MP Malulu Injendi.

“So far, everything is in place and we are raring to go as our presiding and deputy presiding officers have arrived. We have checked and confirmed the functionality of the electronic voting kits, and we have also beefed up security and transport for personnel and voting materials,” said Salim.

He also demystified concerns as to why the tallying centre was moved to Malava Boys, stating that it was strategic, besides having enough structures to conduct the exercise, unlike in West Kabras where infrastructure in most schools was inadequate and therefore posed a security concern.

At the same time, he refuted as rumours the ongoing allegations that the ODM candidate, Edward Inzofu Indumuli, had withdrawn from the race, confirming that his name was still on the ballot.

“As the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Malava Constituency, we have not received any official communication from ODM or the candidate in question regarding the alleged withdrawal from the race, and hence we are treating it as mere rumours,” he added.

Allegations doing the rounds insinuate that the ODM candidate, who was also the ward’s first-time MCA, Edward Indumuli, withdrew from the race in support of UDA candidate Elphas Shalakha in backing of the broad-based government, where the ODM County Chairman and Kakamega Governor, Fernandes Barasa, declared that ODM was supporting UDA for the seat as it was initially held by one of their own.

The IEBC Commissioner, Professor Francis Aduol, who was accompanied by Deputy Commission Secretary Ruth Kulundu, expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness ahead of tomorrow’s polls.

“We have come to witness and confirm the ongoing preparations for the West Kabras by-election, and we want to state that all is well and on plan. We are calling upon voters in the ward to come out in large numbers and vote, as it is their democratic right. On security, there are two police officers in each polling centre, with a contingent of security personnel patrolling the ward to maintain law and order,” he assured.