Kariobangi North by-election gathers steam as campaigns hit fever pitch

The race to fill the vacant Kariobangi North Ward seat has intensified, with the contest shaping up into a fierce battle between the Kenya Patriots Party (KPP) and KANU as the by-election date fast approaches.

The Agnes Kagure–led KPP has launched a vigorous campaign trail, rallying massive support behind its candidate, Geoffrey Owino, who is set to face off with Peter Kariuki of KANU in what analysts are describing as a neck-to-neck political duel.

Kagure, a former Nairobi gubernatorial aspirant and the current KPP party leader, has emphasized that the by-election offers a critical moment to restore public trust in leadership.

“This is not just another election — it’s a chance for Kariobangi residents to choose credible, people-centered leadership that delivers. We must rebuild trust through service,” she remarked during a rally in Kariobangi.

The seat fell vacant following the sudden death of former MCA Joel Munuve, whose demise left a leadership vacuum that has sparked heightened political activity.

Both camps have intensified door-to-door campaigns, each promising to transform the ward’s social and economic fortunes.

KPP’s Geoffrey Owino, who is making a second attempt at the seat, is banking on a youth-centered agenda focused on job creation and community empowerment.

“Our young people have been left behind for far too long. If elected, we will establish sustainable job initiatives for the youth right here in Kariobangi,” Owino told supporters amid cheers.

Meanwhile, KANU’s Peter Karuiki is riding on the party’s historical grassroots appeal, urging residents to back a leadership that he says “understands the struggles of ordinary people.”

Water scarcity, unemployment, and poor infrastructure remain the dominant campaign issues in the ward, with each candidate vowing to deliver tangible change once in office.

As election day draws closer, Kariobangi is emerging as a microcosm of Nairobi’s shifting political dynamics — a test of grassroots mobilization, youth influence, and the growing footprint of new political parties on the city’s electoral map.