UDA's David Keter Secures Emurua Dikirr MP Seat
United Democratic Alliance candidate David Kipsang Keter has clinched victory in the Emurua Dikirr Constituency by-election held on Thursday.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission officially declared him the winner after a competitive race across 94 polling stations. Keter’s strong performance underscores UDA’s continued influence in the Rift Valley region as the party works to consolidate its grassroots support ahead of future national contests.
Keter garnered 18,266 votes, comfortably defeating his nearest rival, Vincent Kibet Rotich of the Democracy for Citizens Party, who received 10,760 votes. Other contestants trailed far behind, with Gideon Koech of NVPK picking up 190 votes, Desma Cherono of PNU getting 80, and Kiprono Rotich of RLP managing just 62. Out of 44,457 registered voters, 29,358 valid ballots were cast, with 177 rejected, indicating solid voter turnout despite the by-election’s timing.
The vacancy arose following the tragic death of the area’s former Member of Parliament, Johanna Ngeno, in a plane crash earlier this year. Keter, who had previously challenged Ngeno on multiple occasions, finally secured the seat under the UDA banner. His win is viewed as a significant boost for the ruling party in maintaining dominance in a constituency that has become a key political battleground, especially with emerging outfits like DCP mounting strong challenges.
As Keter prepares to take up his new role in Parliament, attention now shifts to how this result will influence broader political alignments in the region. The outcome signals that UDA retains a firm grip in parts of the Rift Valley while opposition parties continue to test their strength. With 2027 elections on the horizon, such by-elections offer early insights into shifting voter preferences and party strategies across Kenya.
