Opposition leaders decry ‘rigging’ in Mbeere North, Malava polls as 2027 battle looms

Opposition leaders maintain that the recent Mbeere and Malava constituency by-elections were not free, and that their candidates won but were denied victory through rigging by the government.

Speaking during the memorial service of former Cabinet Minister Joseph Konzollo Munyao at Nairobi Baptist Church on Tuesday, the leaders warned Kenyans to be vigilant against forces attempting to roll back electoral reforms, insisting they remain optimistic of victory in the 2027 General Election.

“He (Munyao) was man of integrity, he loved Kenya, was a patriot and he gave his all as a minister. Our country is at crossroads, and it’s up to us to weigh where we may have gone wrong and where we need to correct. Mbeere and Malava and all these by elections, something was terribly wrong,” said People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua.

Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka said results in Mbeere and Malava were manipulated, and warned that the country is edging back toward the dark days of electoral malpractice.

Kalonzo insisted that opposition candidates did not lose the by-elections, hinting at foul play he'd reveal later when the time is right.

“We are here to honour a very distinguished Kenyan leader who has played his role with distinction. As we lay him to rest, the party he so proudly led has just gone through a by-election,” said Kalonzo.

Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-Kenya) leader Eugene Wamalwa, on his part, said: “The fight for multiparty democracy when Democratic Party (DP) played a role to bring multiparty in this country. This is what we must fight for to defend our democracy at a time of peril.”

The leaders amplified calls for electoral integrity and unity ahead of elections, the event underscored deep divisions in Kenya's political landscape.

Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua added: “We have nothing but admiration for a man who gave his all to serve his country and also a man who brought his family well. His contribution to the DP reminds all of us the need to develop strong political parties for the growth of our democracy in this country.”

Friends, and family eulogised Munyao as a man of integrity and fierce love for family; a gentle, principled leader committed to family, public service and the struggle for multiparty democracy.

As tributes flowed for the late Munyao, the opposition said safeguarding those values in Kenya’s electoral process is the most fitting honour.