Former Meru Governor and Umoja na Maendeleo Party (UMP) leader Kawira Mwangaza has sounded an alarm over the disappearance of the party’s Baringo Senatorial by-election candidate, Daniel Kirui.In a statement released on Saturday, October 11, 2025, Mwangaza voiced serious concerns regarding Kirui’s safety, noting that the candidate had gone missing shortly after receiving approval from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Thursday, October 9, to participate in the upcoming by-election on November 27.
The UMP reported that unidentified individuals, allegedly masquerading as police officers, invaded Kirui’s residence and took everyone there into custody.
Since the event, the party indicated that all efforts to contact the candidate have failed, as his phone is turned off.
Mwangaza characterized the incident as a “direct attack on democracy,” suggesting that influential individuals associated with a competing political group are executing a coordinated effort to intimidate and pressure UMP into withdrawing from election.
She urged the National Police Service to promptly investigate the candidate’s disappearance and ensure his safe return, cautioning that inaction could further undermine the public’s trust in the nation’s democratic institutions.The party also called on the IEBC to take swift measures to protect the integrity of the electoral process and avert any interference in the upcoming election.
“Residents of Baringo have a constitutional right to a free and fair election,” Mwangaza asserted. “We will not succumb to threats or intimidation.”
The UMP also reached out to human rights organizations and the media to highlight the issue, reiterating its dedication to resisting political coercion and safeguarding Kenya’s democratic framework.
By Kenyans