Voters went to the polls on February 26, 2026 to fill vacant seats in one parliamentary constituency and three county assembly wards, with former Attorney General Justin Muturi casting his ballot early in Mbeere North, Embu County and urging high turnout.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) conducted the by-elections in Isiolo South constituency, West Kabras Ward in Kakamega County, and Muminji and Evurore wards in Embu County. Polling stations opened at 6:00 am, and officials reported a calm and orderly start.

Muturi voted at Kanyuambora Primary School in Evurore Ward. After casting his ballot, he praised the conduct of the exercise at his station and called on residents to participate in large numbers. He also openly backed the Democratic Party (DP) candidate Albert Muchira Kigoro.

“I commend the residents who have already turned up to exercise their democratic right and urge those who have not yet voted to come out in large numbers,” Muturi said in a post on X.

He said he had not witnessed any irregularities at his polling station and asked the IEBC to uphold the law across the country.

“So far, the process at my polling station has been peaceful and orderly. I have not witnessed any irregularities, and I encourage the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to ensure that the same standards of transparency, fairness, and adherence to the law are maintained across all polling stations,” he said.

The Evurore contest carries added weight for Muturi. In November 2025, his Democratic Party suffered a narrow defeat in the Mbeere North parliamentary by-election. United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Leonard Muthende won with 15,802 votes, while DP’s Newton Kariuki secured 15,308 votes.

That loss marked a setback for Muturi, who leads the DP and campaigned strongly during the Mbeere North race. Before that vote, he claimed malpractice and warned of interference.

“The schemes to corrupt the Mbeere North by-election are no longer rumours, they are orchestrated, financed and deployed,” he wrote in a pre-election statement at the time.

Why seats fell vacant

The current by-elections arose from different circumstances. In Isiolo South, the seat fell vacant after MP Mohamed Tubi Bidu died on November 12, 2025 while receiving treatment in Nairobi.

In West Kabras Ward, MCA David Ndakwa vacated his seat after winning the Malava parliamentary seat. In Embu County, Muminji Ward MCA Newton Kariuki and Evurore Ward MCA Duncan Mbui resigned in early December 2025 to contest the Mbeere North parliamentary by-election.

IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon confirmed two days before polling that the commission had completed preparations. Officials procured election materials, trained staff and distributed ballot papers to polling stations. Campaigns ended on February 23, at 6:00 pm, in line with electoral law.

On polling day, voters presented their national identity cards for verification using KIEMS kits.

Results are expected to influence local leadership in the affected areas, as attention turns once again to Muturi’s political footing in Embu County.