Sibling showdown as rigging claims emerge in Isiolo South by-election

A sibling rivalry played out in the Isiolo South Constituency by-election, as UDA candidate Tubi Mohammed Tubi went head-to-head with his sister Bina Tubi of the Jubilee Party in a hotly contested race to succeed their father, Mohammed Tubi, who passed on last year.

Bina’s camp has accused her brother’s camp of election rigging, even as the poll witnessed a very low turnout.

Tubi arrived at the Algani polling station wearing a hopeful yet tense smile ahead of the do-or-die contest between him and his sister.

After casting his vote, Tubi, who is Bina’s younger brother, explained how they ended up on the ballot despite high-level negotiations aimed at persuading one of them to step down.

“Unajua siasa haitambui ndugu ama dada. Kuna mambo mingi kwa siasa. Kama mimi wazee ndiyo waliniekelea mkono,” Tubi stated. 

Tubi received a boost after NEDP candidate Isaac Fayo pulled out of the race in his favour, effectively turning the contest into a family affair.

A few kilometres away, Bina also showed up at Kinna polling station hopeful of clinching the seat.

Although she declined to speak to the media, her supporters were quick to cry foul over the election process.

“This election is a sham. It is a sham. We want to ask IEBC whether this is a free and fair election,” stated Mohammed Garse, Bina’s agent.

“We saw some people being bribed here at Kina Primary School and politicians were coming and leaving with crowds,” stated Odhiambo Ojiro, election observer.

The allegations were quickly dismissed by officials from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) overseeing the exercise.

“There was no rigging, at least within the 400-metre radius of voting,” stated Hassan Noor Hassan, IEBC commissioner.

“You have been here the whole day. We have not had any rigging incidents,” stated Nuh Ibrahim, election observer.

“We have had enough security all the way to the tallying centre,” stated David Kiprop, County Commissioner, Isiolo.

The by-election recorded a turnout of about 30 per cent, raising fresh concerns over voter apathy in the constituency.