The Jubilee Party has announced that it will not field a candidate in the forthcoming Kariobangi North Ward by-election, instead throwing its full weight behind a candidate from the Wiper party.
In a statement issued Friday, Jubilee Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni said the party’s decision was guided by the need to foster unity within the opposition.
He noted that the seat was previously held by Joel Munuve, who had aligned himself with the Wiper Party before his untimely departure.
“In the spirit of opposition solidarity, and cognizant of the fact that this seat was previously under a leader working with Wiper, Jubilee has resolved not to present a candidate. We will rally our full support behind Wiper’s candidate to ensure that the people of Kariobangi North continue to enjoy effective representation,” said Kioni.
The by-election, set to be conducted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), was occasioned by the vacancy following Munuve’s demise.
Campaigns are expected to gather momentum in the coming weeks, with various political parties keen to make inroads in Nairobi’s competitive political landscape.
By stepping aside, Jubilee is seen as reinforcing the opposition's strategy of presenting united fronts in key contests to counter the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
Kioni further emphasised that Jubilee’s focus is not only on winning seats but also on safeguarding the democratic gains made in recent years.
"Our unity is our strength. This move reaffirms our commitment to strengthening the opposition’s voice and ensuring that Kenyans are adequately represented in all spheres of governance,” he said.
IEBC has already assured Kenyans that it is fully prepared to conduct the by-elections scheduled for 27 November 2025.
Last week, the commission said it had secured the requisite funding from the National Treasury.
Confirming the development, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the commission had now secured all the resources it had been seeking to run a smooth electoral process.
“We would like to assure the country and citizens that all preparations are in top gear, and the resources we needed to conduct successful by-elections are now available to us,” Ethekon stated.
His remarks come after weeks of concern over budgetary shortfalls, which had raised fears of possible delays.
According to Ethekon, those constraints have been resolved following fruitful engagements with Treasury officials.
"Where there were shortages, we have had candid and fruitful discussions with our national treasury, who have since then unlocked that, and therefore there is no reason whatsoever why we should not have by-elections as planned," he affirmed.
The IEBC chair also highlighted the commission’s ongoing collaboration with political stakeholders to enhance transparency and preparedness.
He revealed that the electoral agency has held consultative meetings with political parties through the Political Parties Liaison Committee, alongside the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties
