Kiambaa by-election a Jubilee contest that showed democratic maturity

Njuguna Wanjiku, Moses Kuria and Ndindi Nyoro celebrate after poll win in Kiambaa. [John Muchucha, Standard]

Kenyan lovers of European football and of local politics received thrilling treats barely four days apart. On July 11, 2021 England took on Italy at Wembley. Although Italy outplayed England, it had to go to penalty shootouts for Italy to win. Thereafter, England soccer goons turned on their own players who missed penalty kicks. On July 15, 2021 political fans watched an intense Jubilee intra-mural contest that featured President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto. 

The Kiambaa by-election contest was unusual. It is one of the few by-elections in Kenya that attracted attention because of the subsequent impact on the country’s political future. There had been, for instance, the February 1989 mlolongo by-election in Kiharu that increased cracks in Kanu’s power monopoly. There was open cheating rather than contest, but it helped to build up multi-party politics. The Kiambaa by-election, however, turned into stiff power contest between men who should be on the same side.