In a stunning turn of events that has sent shockwaves through Kenya’s political circles, National Economic Development Party (NEDP) candidate Issack Abduba Fayo has not only withdrawn from the Isiolo South parliamentary by-election but has thrown his full weight behind United Democratic Alliance (UDA) aspirant Tubi Mohamed Tubi(Tubi Junior).
The development, confirmed on February 20, 2026, dramatically reshapes the race just days before the February 26 poll.
Fayo, the former Kinna Member of County Assembly and ex-Majority Leader in the Isiolo County Assembly, met President William Samoei Ruto at State House in the company of key figures including Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo and respected community elder Charfana Guyo Mokku, who serves as Tubi Junior’s liaison representative.
Notably, Tubi Junior himself was absent from the high-level engagement perhaps held up in campaign activities which has hit crescendo with just days to go.
During the meeting, Fayo formally stepped aside and pledged his support to the UDA candidate, a move that consolidates significant voter blocs in the constituency.
President Ruto, who also leads the UDA, hailed the decision as a courageous and strategic step toward unity and accelerated development in Isiolo County.
He described it as a reflection of increasing public trust in the government’s broad-based, inclusive agenda, particularly its Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which prioritizes empowering marginalized communities at the grassroots level.
The President was joined by UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar Hassan and Executive Director Nicodemus Bore, underscoring the party’s high-level backing for the consolidation effort.
Sibling Showdown Intensifies Amid Major Realignment
The by-election, triggered by the passing of the late Mohamed Tubi Bidu late last year, was initially a three-cornered contest. Fayo’s withdrawal leaves the field to two siblings: Tubi Mohamed Tubi, endorsed by community elders and running on the UDA ticket, now positioned as the clear frontrunner with enhanced momentum, and his elder sister Bina Tubi, who carries the Jubilee Party flag.
The family rivalry adds layers of intrigue, blending personal ties with fierce party competition in a region long yearning for focused representation and development.
Political observers anticipate that Fayo’s endorsement, backed by his established grassroots network from Kinna and surrounding areas, will significantly influence voter realignments in the remaining campaign hours.
His exit eliminates vote splitting on the NEDP side and funnels potential support toward Tubi Mohamed Tubi, tilting the scales further in UDA’s favor.
Sonko’s Shock and Accusations of Betrayal
The move caught NEDP leader Mike Mbuvi Sonko completely off guard. Just a day earlier, Sonko had been actively campaigning vigorously for Fayo in Isiolo South, leading an energetic push that included community engagements and promises of targeted projects.
Unaware of Fayo’s State House appointment, Sonko reacted with sharp disappointment, publicly accusing his former candidate of betrayal driven by greed and allowing himself to be compromised by state influences.
Sonko highlighted that Fayo had begun disappearing from campaign activities two days prior, leaving the party to soldier on without him.
In a strongly worded statement, Sonko distanced the NEDP from the withdrawal, clarifying that it was a personal decision by Fayo rather than a party directive.
He expressed regret over the turn of events but vowed to continue supporting small-scale community initiatives already launched in Isiolo South, thanking residents for their overwhelming backing during the brief campaign period.
The episode has left NEDP, which only recently gained full registration and saw Fayo’s nomination as its inaugural milestone, in a state of limbo and frustration.
Final Push as Polling Day Looms
With campaigning reaching its climax, the constituency buzzes with intensified activity.
Door-to-door drives, public forums, and urgent voter appeals dominate as candidates address pressing local concerns such as infrastructure upgrades, security enhancements, economic empowerment, and fair resource allocation.
Fayo’s endorsement has injected fresh energy into the UDA camp while forcing Jubilee’s Bina Tubi to redouble efforts in what has become an even more polarized contest.
The Isiolo South by-election now stands as a critical barometer of shifting alliances, the power of high-level endorsements, and the enduring appeal of unity calls in northern Kenya’s politics.
Whatever the outcome on February 26, the dramatic events of recent days will leave a lasting imprint on the constituency’s future representation and the broader national political narrative.
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