The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has scheduled the Migwani Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) by-election in Mwingi West Constituency, Kitui County, for Tuesday, November 17, 2026.
According to a special issue of the Kenya Gazette published on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, the by-election follows the declaration of a vacancy in the Migwani Ward MCA seat by the Speaker on August 6, 2026.
The electoral commission has outlined a series of deadlines for political parties and independent candidates seeking to participate in the election.
Political parties are required to submit the names of candidates contesting in their party primaries, as well as the date of the primaries, by September 30, 2026.
Independent candidates must also submit their names and symbols to the commission by the same deadline.
The IEBC will conduct the nomination of political party and independent candidates on Wednesday, October 21, and Thursday, October 22, 2026.
The nomination process will be followed by a dispute resolution period, with nomination-related disputes required to be lodged within 24 hours of the occurrence and, in any event, no later than Friday, October 23.
The campaign period will begin on Wednesday, October 21, and end on Sunday, November 15, 2026, 48 hours before polling day. Campaign activities will be permitted between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The commission has appointed Julius Muthusi Maingi as the Returning Officer and Paul Ndoi Mwithi as the Deputy Returning Officer for the by-election.
Polling will take place from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on November 17, 2026, while the registration of voters for Migwani Ward will remain suspended until December 17, 2026.
The IEBC has further directed participating political parties and independent candidates to submit the names of their constituency election agents and polling station agents by November 3, 2026.
The by-election follows the vacancy created after the immediate former Member of County Assembly (MCA) and Assembly Majority Leader, Harrison Maluki, resigned to take up his new appointment as the Clerk of the Kitui County Assembly.
