ODM’s Magarini by-election candidate, Harrison Kombe, has raised alarm after some of his polling agents were reportedly prevented from entering several voting stations on Thursday morning, November 27, 2025.

Speaking shortly at Mjanaheri Primary School, Kombe said the situation disrupted the start of an otherwise peaceful voting process.

“Party agents who are also compromised, and I’m not ready for that. I want a fair game, a fair game. My agents must be in the room throughout. That is it,” he said.

“Sijasema watoke. lakini agents wangu ni wawe humu ndani. Wakiona ni sawa wote wawili wawe humo ndani, in fact there is a lot of space. We can have even four agents in the room. Let them bring two agents for the party and my two agents to be also inside there.”

“There is a lot of room. After all it is only one ballot box.”

Kombe also urged residents to come out and vote, noting that it was too early to comment on turnout.

By-election faces interference claims

The Magarini parliamentary seat fell vacant after the High Court nullified the 2022 General Election results, citing irregularities. This decision prompted the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to call a fresh by-election, drawing multiple candidates back to the campaign trail. The constituency has 80,128 registered voters, according to the IEBC.

The by-election has attracted national attention, with concerns over potential interference. Nyali MP Mohammed Ali claimed there were plans to disrupt the exercise. He claimed that Mombasa Governor Abdulswammad Nassir had deployed presiding officers and inspectorates to manipulate the vote and urged locals to prevent non-residents from interfering.

Similarly, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader, Rigathi Gachagua, wrote to IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon, claiming that Vice Chairperson Fahima Araphat Abdallah had tried to influence the election in favour of a preferred candidate.

Gachagua said Abdallah visited Magarini on November 21, intimidating officials and demanding lists and contacts of presiding officers.

The IEBC dismissed the claims, assuring political parties that the election will be conducted in a free, fair, transparent, and credible manner. Chairperson Ethekon said all election officials operate independently and are insulated from undue influence. Returning officers and poll officials were appointed and trained in accordance with the law, and parties were given a chance to scrutinise the list of officials.