David Keter Wins UDA Nomination by Just 365 Votes in Emurua Dikirr Race
Narok, 28 March 2026
David Keter secured the United Democratic Alliance ticket for Emurua Dikirr constituency yesterday evening, defeating Bernard Ng’eno by a razor-thin margin of 365 votes out of over 27,000 cast. The three-time challenger finally overcame his political rival’s ally in what observers called one of Kenya’s closest nomination contests this year, setting up May’s by-election following MP Johana Ng’eno’s tragic helicopter crash death last month.
Narrow Victory Margin Reflects Competitive Contest
The results announced at 20:45 on 27 March 2026 demonstrated the tight nature of the race, with Keter securing 13,759 votes against Bernard Kipkoech Ng’eno’s 13,394 votes [1][2]. This margin of 365 votes represents just 1.344 per cent of the total ballots cast across 96 polling stations [1][2]. Veronica Chebet, UDA National Election Board Vice chairperson, declared that “the voting process has been smooth, free of any ugly incidences” and confirmed that “the tallying is complete and the winner has emerged as Keter as per the wishes of the voters” [1][2].
Allegations of Electoral Irregularities Surface
Despite official assurances of a peaceful process, the nomination exercise faced significant challenges including claims of bribery and repeat voting [2]. Voting commenced as late as 11:00 in some stations on 27 March 2026, with UDA party officials including Hassan Omar and Anthony Mwaura touring polling stations to address issues such as late delivery of electronic gadgets [2]. The allegations of electoral malpractice cast a shadow over what party leadership described as an impressive turnout that “speaks volumes of the grassroots support UDA enjoys in the region and across the country ahead of the next general election” [1][2].
Political Context Following Tragic Circumstances
The by-election necessity arose from the death of MP Johana Ng’eno in a helicopter crash on 28 February 2026 in Nandi county [1][2]. Bernard Kipkoech Ng’eno, who contested against Keter, served as the personal assistant to the late MP [1]. On 6 March 2026, Benard Ngeno had addressed mourners at Emurua Dikirr Primary School, positioning himself as the continuity candidate for his former boss’s political legacy [1]. Keter’s victory represents a significant shift from the established political order that Ng’eno had maintained in the constituency.
Road to May By-Election
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has scheduled the by-election for 14 May 2026, with 44,447 registered voters expected to participate [1][2]. UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar emphasized that “the party does not have a preferred candidate in the nomination process” and that they “have left the people of Emurua Dikirr constituency to make their independent choice” [1]. The Emurua Dikirr constituency, created before the 2013 General Election, represents a key battleground in the broader Narok region [1][2]. Keter’s nomination marks the culmination of his persistent political ambitions after three previous unsuccessful attempts to unseat the late Ng’eno [1][2].