Kalonzo tests Raila’s grip by entering ODM zones in by-elections
By Mabonga Makhanu, September 24, 2025Wiper Patriotic Front now eyes zones dominated by the Orange Democratic Movement in the upcoming by-elections slated for November 27.
While unveiling candidates who will contest in the upcoming minipolls on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Wiper party leader Kalonzo has announced that they will field candidates in Ugunja, Kasipul Kabondo, and Magarini to face ODM’s candidate.
“We are fielding in 3 parliamentary seats, in Magarini, Kilifi, Kasipul Kabondo Homa Bay, and Ugunja in Siaya, and several other MCAs,” Kalonzo stated.
Violence in Kasipul
Elsewhere, the ODM nomination exercise that is currently underway in Kasipul Kabondo has been interrupted after violence erupted
In a notice on X, the party said aspirant Newton Ogada arrived at the distribution centre with a group of supporters, described as “goons”, and began threatening the Returning Officer and other election officials.
The disruption was further complicated by the arrival of Homa Bay Deputy Governor Oyugi Magwanga, who is not a candidate in the primaries, leading to further delays in the exercise, which was scheduled to start at 8:00 am.
By-election campaigns
By-election campaigns have now entered top gear. The UDA held its party primaries over the weekend across the country, which saw supporters turning up in numbers to vote for the flagbearers who will be facing other candidates drawn from different parties in the November 27 minipolls.
In Malava, it was a hotly contested party nomination which saw the son of the late Malulu Injendi, who was seeking to replace his father, Ryan Injendi, being dwarfed by Kakamega County minority leader David Ndakwa, who won by a landslide.
Ryan later came out lamenting the betrayal from the Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, stating that despite other top government officials deciding not to take sides in the party elections, people from his office were out in the constituency trying to influence the vote in Ndakwa’s favour.
Despite all these, he decided to remain in the party and agreed to support the winner.
The Gachagua-led party, on the other hand, is also working hard to campaign for its candidates who are participating in the upcoming by-elections.
The party agreed to cede ground for the DP party in the Mbeere North parliamentary by-election and agreed to support it to win the seat, but it has remained silent in Malava.