In a stunning political twist just days before polling, former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has voiced deep shock and frustration after his National Economic Development Party candidate abruptly pulled out of the keenly watched Isiolo South parliamentary by-election.
The vote, scheduled for February 26, 2026, follows the death of the constituency’s Member of Parliament, Mohamed Tubi Bidu, in November 2025.
What began as a three-cornered contest has now transformed into a dramatic family affair, leaving Sonko accusing his own nominee of betrayal at the most critical moment.
Sonko, who has personally spearheaded the NEDP campaign efforts across Isiolo County, revealed that candidate Issack Abduba Fayo had vanished from the campaign trail for two days before the unexpected announcement.
The former governor, known for his hands-on approach to grassroots mobilisation, had poured significant resources into building momentum for Fayo in the pastoralist-dominated constituency.
Despite the setback, Sonko vowed that the party would not abandon the people it had begun to serve.
He pledged to sustain all community programmes already launched in Isiolo South, insisting these initiatives were designed to deliver lasting upliftment rather than serve as mere campaign tools.
The programmes have touched thousands of residents through the distribution of school supplies to learners in several institutions, targeted donations of food and non-food items to vulnerable families, the installation of a solar-powered water pump at a local mosque to ease water access challenges, and continued sponsorship of both educational and medical support for needy children.
Sonko stressed that these efforts would proceed uninterrupted, regardless of any changes on the candidate front.
Speaking immediately after the withdrawal news, Sonko did not hold back. “It is unfortunate that my candidate betrayed our party,” he declared, capturing the sense of disappointment that has rippled through NEDP ranks.
Fayo’s decision to step aside and throw his weight behind Tubi Mohamed, the United Democratic Alliance candidate, has reshaped the race entirely.
With only days remaining, the contest has narrowed sharply into an intense sibling showdown between Tubi Mohamed of UDA and his sister Bina Tubi of the Jubilee Party.
Both are children of the late MP Mohamed Tubi Bidu, who had held the seat since winning it on a Jubilee ticket in 2022.
The development hands a significant boost to Tubi Mohamed, whose campaign has already received high-level endorsements within the ruling coalition.
Observers note that Fayo’s exit consolidates support in a constituency where family ties and local loyalties often carry considerable weight.
Yet Sonko and the NEDP have made their position crystal clear: their investment in Isiolo South goes far beyond one candidate or one election.
The ongoing community projects stand as visible proof of the party’s commitment to tangible development in northern Kenya, even as the political landscape shifts rapidly.
The by-election has drawn national attention not only because of the family contest but also as an early indicator of political alignments heading into the 2027 general elections.
Sonko’s aggressive push into the region had positioned the NEDP as an emerging alternative force focused on direct service delivery and economic empowerment at the grassroots level.
As campaign teams make final preparations and voters weigh their choices, the sudden withdrawal has injected fresh drama into what was already a closely fought race.
For Sonko, the episode represents both a personal and political disappointment, yet his determination to keep delivering for Isiolo South residents underscores a broader message: true leadership, he insists, endures beyond ballot setbacks.
The coming days will reveal whether the sibling rivalry or the lingering impact of NEDP’s development footprint ultimately sways the outcome in Isiolo South by-election.
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