The by-election in Kisa East, already crowded and politically charged, took a dramatic turn Wednesday after the United Democratic Alliance abruptly pulled out of the race, leaving its candidate to publicly endorse a rival — a move that stunned supporters and shifted the dynamics of an already unpredictable contest.
James Shiraku, the UDA aspirant who had spent weeks campaigning, stepped before voters in Kakamega County and announced what many in the crowd struggled to process. “My name is James Shiraku. I was vying for the Kisa East seat, but I have agreed to support Honourable Ongoro,” he said, referring to Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) candidate Joel Ongoro Otwoma.
The statement, brief but politically seismic, instantly reconfigured the race. The ruling party’s withdrawal — rare in local politics and even rarer this close to voting day — came after consultations between Shiraku and senior party officials, according to the candidate. He later revealed that Khwisero MP Christopher Aseka had played a key role in the discussions that led to his decision. Aseka has in recent weeks emerged as one of Ongoro’s most active backers.
The withdrawal comes just days before voters head to the polls on November 27, 2025, a deadline that now looms even larger as campaigns scramble to recalibrate.
Shiraku’s exit leaves Ongoro facing ten rivals in the race for the MCA seat. Among those still in the contest are DAP-Kenya’s Abraham Ayaya, Democracy for the Citizens Party’s Aduda Okwiri, ODM’s John Masetu, UDM’s Stephen Amwayi, and Agano Party’s David Muchelule. Each candidate has been courting a constituency still searching for stability after a devastating loss.
The by-election itself is rooted in tragedy. Former MCA Stephen Maloba died in 2023 after reportedly being stabbed at a political rally in Khwisero. Though efforts were made to rush him to Mbale Hospital, he did not survive. His death left a vacancy that transformed Kisa East into a political battleground — a place where alliances shift quickly and voters remain sensitive to the violence that defined the last campaign season.
Shiraku’s withdrawal adds another twist to the ward’s fraught political narrative. To some residents, it was a gesture of unity; to others, a sign of behind-the-scenes pressure. But to analysts watching the race, the move is strategic — a consolidation of votes that could significantly boost Ongoro’s chances.
“It changes everything,” one observer noted. “This kind of endorsement can draw undecided voters and reshape the field within days.”
On Wednesday, as Shiraku spoke, some of his supporters stood silently, their UDA caps bright against a moment that seemed to undercut weeks of campaigning. For Ongoro, the endorsement arrives as both a windfall and a new test: momentum brings attention, but it also sharpens scrutiny and raises expectations.
