The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has set Tuesday, November 17, 2026, as the date for the Migwani Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) by-election in Mwingi West Constituency, Kitui County.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The commission announced the date in a Kenya Gazette notice published on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, following the declaration of a vacancy in the ward's MCA seat.

The vacancy arose after former Migwani MCA Harrison Maluki Mawia left the elected position following his appointment as the Clerk of the Kitui County Assembly. Mawia had served as the ward representative since the 2022 General Election and had also served as the assembly's Majority Leader.

Mawia was approved for the Clerk's position by the Kitui County Assembly on August 5 and was sworn into office the following day. His appointment was formally published in the Kenya Gazette, with the new role taking effect on August 6, 2026.

📌 What You Need to Know

The move from MCA to Clerk created the vacancy because the two positions have different roles. An MCA is an elected ward representative involved in legislation, oversight, and approval of county plans and budgets, while the Clerk is the assembly’s chief administrative officer who provides procedural and legislative support.

Following Mawia's departure, Kitui County Assembly Speaker Kevin Katisya formally declared the Migwani Ward seat vacant on August 6 and notified the IEBC, paving the way for the commission to organise a by-election.

The November poll will therefore be a midterm election to fill the vacant Migwani Ward seat for the remainder of the current county assembly term, rather than an election held as part of the 2027 General Election.

Under the timetable released by IEBC, political parties must submit the names of candidates who will participate in their party primaries and the dates of the primaries by Wednesday, September 30.

Independent candidates are also required to s ubmit their names and symbols to the commission by the same date, while newly fully registered political parties must submit certified membership lists and nomination rules.

“Nomination will be conducted on Wednesday, October 21, and Thursday, October 22, with candidates submitting their nomination papers between 8am and 1pm and between 2 pm and 4 pm on the two days,” IEBC said.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke