21/11/2025
LAKEZONE WARD BY-ELECTION: THE KEY INTRIGUES
The Lakezone Ward by-election on 27th November 2025 will see more than 10,800 voters return to the ballot to choose a new MCA, two years after the death of Hon. Michael Egialan Ekwar. The ward stretches along the shores of Lake Turkana up to the volatile Kenya–Ethiopia border, with 36 polling stations spread across settlements such as Loarengak, Todonyang, Kataboi, Kokiselei and smaller lakefront villages. Loarengak and Todonyang remain the largest voting blocs and often decide the final outcome.
In Lakezone, clan identity is the most influential force in politics. The Ng’isigier, the majority clan, dominate the Loarengak–Todonyang belt, while the Ng’ilukumong are strongest in Kataboi and parts of Kokiselei. Kataboi, long regarded as the intellectual heart of the ward, is known for its strong ODM roots and its educated, politically active population. This background forms the anchor of ODM’s support, even as other candidates attempt to eat into this base.
The contest features three key candidates. The ODM candidate, Hon. Obiro, backed by Hon. Paul Nabuin, draws naturally from the Ng’ilukumong vote in Kataboi, though he faces internal competition from the UDA candidate who also has Ng’ilukumong lineage. The UDA flagbearer, Hon. Namesek, supported by Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai, has influence in Kokiselei but confronts the reality of a divided clan base. Meanwhile, UDM’s Hon. Meyan, championed by former MP and former Speaker Christopher Nakuleu, is projected as the “pure Esigierit” candidat a narrative aimed at uniting the numerically superior Ng’isigier across the ward. His Loarengak–Todonyang roots bolster his appeal, as these areas face persistent insecurity from cross-border raids, pressure on fishing livelihoods, and challenges in health access. Many residents believe that only a leader from the border communities can effectively champion security concerns and restore stability.
The real political battle now lies between ODM and UDA struggling for the Ng’ilukumong vote in Kataboi, while UDM pushes to consolidate the Ng’isigier majority spread across the ward. With Loarengak and Todonyang carrying the highest registered voters, analysts believe these two communities may ultimately determine the next MCA. In essence, the Lakezone by-election is a tight, three-way race shaped by clan loyalties, geographic identities and the security realities of Turkana’s northern frontier.
