UDA’s Dollarline wins high-stakes Emurua Dikirr by-election
United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate David Keter, popularly known as Dollarline, has been declared the winner of the fiercely contested Emurua Dikirr parliamentary by-election, cementing the ruling party’s grip on the politically significant Narok County constituency.
Keter garnered 18,266 votes to defeat Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Vincent Kibet Rotich, who secured 10,760 votes in the mini-poll that attracted intense national political attention.
Bomet-based lawyer Gideon Koech of the National Vision Party (NVP) finished a distant third with 190 votes, while Desma Cherono of PNU and Kipronoh Rotich of the Revolutionary Labour Party (RLP) received 80 and 62 votes respectively.
The results were officially announced on Thursday night by Returning Officer Caleb Gikonde at the Emurua Dikirr Technical Training Institute tallying centre after a day-long counting exercise from the constituency’s 94 polling stations.
Speaking after being declared the winner, Keter thanked residents for overwhelmingly backing his candidature and pledged to serve all constituents regardless of political affiliation.
“I want to thank the people of Emurua Dikirr for electing me. I will serve all residents equally regardless of how they voted,” said Keter.
The incoming legislator said he would work to unite the constituency and collaborate with leaders across the political divide to accelerate development projects.
Keter also commended the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), security agencies, and election officials for overseeing what he termed a peaceful, free, and fair electoral process.
The by-election had evolved into a high-stakes political battle between the ruling UDA and the DCP, with analysts framing it as a contest for influence between President William Ruto and his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, whose DCP party has recently intensified efforts to penetrate the Rift Valley voting bloc.
Political observers said the outcome was viewed as a test of President Ruto’s dominance in his political backyard, while Gachagua sought to capitalise on local discontent and perceived unfulfilled promises to expand his influence in the region.
The Emurua Dikirr parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of area MP Johana Ng’eno, who was among six people killed in a helicopter crash in Chepkiep village, Mosop, Nandi County, on February 28, 2026.
Ng’eno, a three-term legislator, had represented the constituency since 2013 and was serving under the UDA party at the time of his death.
His passing triggered the constitutional process of filling the vacant National Assembly seat, prompting the IEBC to schedule the by-election for May 14, 2026, after consultations with electoral stakeholders.
The announcement sparked heightened political activity, with major parties quickly moving to field candidates in what became one of the country’s most closely watched by-elections.
Campaigns were marked by intense mobilisation as candidates sought to inherit the political influence and support base left behind by the late MP.
