Kenyan politics served another episode of comedy this week after allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua marched into the February 26 by-elections promising an earthquake — only to deliver what online critics cheekily described as “political tremors felt nowhere.”
The spotlight fell squarely on Western Kenya, where the West Kabras Ward by-election in Kakamega County was billed as a test of Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP). With DCP deputy leader Cleophas Malala rallying support and even perceived backing from Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya, the stage looked set for a dramatic upset.
Instead, the ruling United Democratic Alliance casually walked off with the seat, as candidate Elphas Shalakha cruised to victory. The loss completed a clean sweep for UDA, which also bagged Isiolo South MP, Muminji MCA, and Evurore MCA seats — leaving the opposition staring at results that looked less like competition and more like exam scripts marked in red ink.
Observers joked that even Natembeya’s vocal anti-UDA energy couldn’t rescue the moment, while alleged disruptions linked to Malala only added drama without delivering votes. In the Luhya heartland where the opposition hoped to flex muscle, UDA instead flexed organization, numbers, and grassroots machinery.
The irony was not lost on seasoned political watchers. When UDA itself was a newborn outfit during the fallout between William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta, its first real test came in the Msambweni by-election, where Feisal Bader stunned ODM despite the influence of Raila Odinga and coastal kingpin Hassan Joho. The momentum later produced Kwale governor Fatuma Achani, cementing UDA’s arrival.
That history now makes DCP’s struggles look like a rehearsal gone wrong. In political theatre terms, UDA showed up with a full orchestra while Gachagua’s outfit arrived with a broken microphone. For now, analysts say, the by-elections suggest the new party’s hype remains exactly that — hype — as UDA treats these contests less like battles and more like a relaxed warm-up before the main electoral marathon.
Leave a Reply