According to reports aired by TV47 on Thursday morning, concerns emerged over alleged intimidation and isolated incidents of chaos at some polling stations during the ongoing exercise.
Speaking during an interview with the station, political communication strategist GK Malema claimed that groups of individuals believed to be aligned to the ruling party were moving around polling centres intimidating voters and opposition supporters.
“UDA goons are everywhere at polling stations. Chaos erupted at night, leaving several people injured. DCP’s stronghold candidate was threatened by goons shouting ‘Heshimu Rais,’” Malema alleged during the interview.
The claims, however, had not been independently verified by the time of publication, and no official statement had immediately been issued by security agencies or the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) regarding the allegations.
The by-election has attracted significant political attention because it is being viewed as a test of influence between rival political camps in the region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA), associated with President William Ruto, is seeking to retain political dominance in the area, while opposition-linked groups are also attempting to strengthen their foothold.
Observers noted that unlike the recently concluded Mbeere North by-election, where senior UDA leaders actively campaigned on the ground for several days, the ruling party appeared less visible in Emurua Dikirr in the days leading up to the vote.
This has sparked speculation among political commentators, with some suggesting the President may have opted for a wait-and-see approach instead of deploying the full state and party machinery during the contest.
Despite the reported tension, voting continued in several polling stations as residents turned up to cast their ballots.
Local leaders and election observers have since appealed for calm and urged residents to avoid violence or provocation during the electoral process.
They also called on political supporters to respect democratic processes and allow voters to exercise their constitutional right peacefully.
Security personnel were reportedly deployed in parts of the constituency to monitor the situation and prevent any escalation of unrest as the voting exercise progressed.
The Emurua Dikirr seat fell vacant following the death of Johana Ng’eno, whose tenure in Parliament was marked by vocal political engagements and strong grassroots mobilisation within the constituency.
His death triggered the by-election, setting the stage for a highly contested race involving candidates from different political formations.
Political analysts say the outcome of the mini-poll could offer an early indication of shifting political alignments in the region ahead of the next General Election.
As counting and voting continue, attention remains focused on whether the process will proceed peacefully and whether authorities will address the allegations of intimidation raised by some political actors.
The IEBC is expected to issue updates later after the conclusion of voting and the beginning of tallying across the constituency.
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