Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i is set for a major political test in his home turf and beyond as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) prepares for a series of by-elections scheduled for November 27, 2025.
Dr. Matiang’i, who has recently been fronted by the Jubilee Party as its presidential flagbearer, is also the political figurehead behind the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) — a party that played a key role in the last general elections, particularly in Nyamira County where Governor Amos Nyaribo and several Members of County Assembly (MCAs) were elected under its ticket.
The upcoming by-elections will serve as a crucial test of the former CS’s influence, especially in his Nyamira home county, where UPA has unveiled three candidates to defend its dominance.
In Nyamaiya Ward, Captain Chris Osiemo will be vying under the UPA ticket to succeed his late brother, Elijah Osiemo, whose tragic road accident left the seat vacant.
In Nyansiongo Ward, Hon. Kevin Maranga has been cleared by the IEBC to contest following a court nullification of the 2022 results, while in Ekerenyo Ward, Hon. Ongaro Jeremiah will carry the UPA flag after the seat fell vacant when the former MCA, Thaddeus Nyabaro, was elevated to a higher position as the speaker within the county assembly.
The political stakes are equally high beyond Nyamira as UPA is fielding candidates in multiple regions across the country — a move viewed by analysts as an attempt to test the party’s national appeal and organizational strength ahead of the 2027 general election.
Among the key candidates cleared by IEBC under UPA include:
Sen. Vincent Kipkirui (Baringo County)
Hon. Irene Fwaya (Ugunja Constituency)
Mheshimiwa Nuridin Dalato (Banisa Constituency)
Hon. Rateng Okoth Kotiende (Kasipul Constituency)
Rev. Isaak Muringi (Mbeere North Constituency)
Hon. Jared Obara (Chewani Ward)
Hon. Oliver Simiyu (Chwele Ward)
Kipkoech Gideon (Chemundu Ward)
Hon. Japhet Kiphet (Metkei Ward)
Hon. Naftali Onchari (Kariobangi North Ward)
Hon. Erick Ontita (Narok Town Ward)
Hon. Naomi Nzioki (Mumbuni North Ward)
Political observers say the performance of UPA in the upcoming by-elections will not only reflect Dr. Matiang’i’s enduring influence in Gusii politics but also signal whether he can pose a credible challenge to the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in 2027.
With UDA also fielding strong candidates across the same regions, the November mini-polls are shaping up to be a major political showdown, testing Dr. Matiang’i’s grassroots mobilization power and his ability to translate local popularity into a national political force.
As campaigns gain momentum, all eyes will be on Nyamira — the epicenter of Dr. Matiang’i’s political base — to see whether his influence remains intact or whether the ruling party will make inroads into what was once considered UPA’s stronghold.
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