Low turnout recorded in Kariobangi North by-election

 Voters queuing and casting their votes at Kariobangi North during the By-election of Kariobangi North Ward Member of County Assembly in Nairobi on November 27, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The voting exercise in Kariobangi North Ward in Nairobi County witnessed significant low voter turnout in the ongoing by-elections across the country. 

A spot-check by The Standard observed a few number of electorates who had cast their ballots, at least by afternoon of Thursday 27. 

For instance, at Kariobangi North Day Nursery School, only a paltry 118 voters had casted their votes against a total of 671 registered voters in polling station six of the seven stations at the polling centre.  

Similar incidents were observed at Our Lady of Fatuma Polling Center where only 128 voters had turned out against a total of 609 registered voters by around 3pm. 

These figures only represented 17 and 21 per cent respectively, with the election officials at the station expressing doubt in the possibility recording a "significant" turnout at the end of the close of voting. 

Kenya African National Union (Kanu) party candidate Peter Kariuki was the 118th voter to cast the ballot at station six of the polling centre, minutes to 1 p.m.

Kariuki is battling out the seat against Michael Ouma Majua of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) adn Kavali Munyoki of the former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka's Wiper Patriotic Front.

Others in the contest include David Wanyoike Warui (Democracy of the Citizens Party), Peter Kariuki Ng’ang’a (Kanu) and the area former MCA Maina Njoka (United Democratic Alliance).

Kariuki described the process as “smooth and well-organised,” praising electoral officials for what he said was an orderly and efficient exercise.

“The voting has been a smooth process,” he said. “It took me about one to two minutes.”

He lauded the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for “good planning,” noting that there were no instances of voter details confusion.

However, he decried the frustrations his agents have been subjected to, lamenting that the majority of them were denied access to the polling stations.

“Most of my agents have not been issued with the official tags and therefore cannot access the stations to monitor the process,” he said.

He lauded Kariobangi residents for their calm conduct throughout the campaign period and on election day.

“I want to thank the people of Kariobangi for being calm from the start of the campaigns up to today. People are voting peacefully, and I encourage them to continue with that level of discipline,” he noted.

On security, he assured the residents that security had been reinforced, with officers maintaining order at polling centres. “Security is good; it is beefed up. The youth are composed,” he said.

However, he expressed concerns over the visibly low youth turnout, attributing the trend to widespread unemployment, frustration, and unfulfilled promises from their elected leaders.

“There is low voter turnout among the youth,” he observed. “Young people are disappointed. They are unemployed and cannot sustain themselves, and when they are deceived by their leaders, they lose hope and fail to turn out.”

Despite the slow turnout, the hopeful MCA exuded confidence in securing a decisive victory once counting begins.

“I believe we are going to win by a large margin and take a landslide victory,” he said.

Michael Kagwiri, a resident of the area attributed the low turnout to what they described as disappointments from their elected leaders. 

He argued that, once elected, the leaders embark on serving their personal interests instead of addressing the public's plight, leaving the youths deeply frustrated. 

And so, he said, majority of the young people stayed away from the ongoing by-elections since they no longer see the point of showing up at the ballot.

“We keep voting, but every leader we choose ends up fighting for their own interests, not ours,” Kagwiri said.

He added that chronic unemployment has made participation feel like a luxury. 

“Some of us had to choose between going to vote and going to work. If you miss a day, you miss a meal. What will you choose between voting and hustling for food?" 

According to him, many of his friends simply felt unmotivated after repeated disappointments.

 “It’s hard to stand in line for change you don’t believe will ever come,” he said, urging leaders to rebuild trust if they expect better youth turnout in future elections.

Kariuki observed that previous disappointment from leaders discourages the young from voting. 

He urged leaders to rebuild trust if they expect better youth turnout in future elections.

"Young people are disappointed. They are unemployed and cannot sustain themselves, and when they are deceived by their leaders, they lose hope and fail to turn out," he said.