Communication strategist Barack Muluka has described the recent Malava and Mbeere North by-elections as a litmus test for the state’s influence on voters.
Speaking on JKL Live at Citizen TV on Wednesday, Muluka suggested that the polls measured how the electorate would respond to inducements, intimidation, and misinformation.
The Mbeere North by-election was won by UDA’s Leo Wamuthende, while David Ndakwa secured the Malava seat.
Both constituencies have historically played pivotal roles in reflecting broader national political shifts, making the results closely observed by analysts and party strategists.
Muluka framed the by-elections as more than routine electoral exercises, describing them as “an inoculation against what could follow.”
He said they served not only as a test for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to demonstrate its capacity to manage polls but also as a trial of state-backed tactics to influence voter behaviour.
“The verdict has returned to the house on the hill that it worked well,” Muluka told JKL Live.
He added that the ruling party’s apparent post-election confidence, citing victories and claims of widespread popularity, signals a preparation for upcoming contests.
“We have seen them coming out and bragging and saying we have carried the day and we are very popular and we are going to beat the opposition again,” Muluka noted
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