Kilifi county insights( km-insights)

#article

Kilifi County 2022 General Election Statistics (Last Election: August 9, 2022)

Kilifi County had 588,602 registered voters (IEBC data). Overall voter turnout was low at approximately 49% (consistent with coastal counties; national average was ~64.8%, but Kilifi saw lower participation due to factors like apathy, economic issues, and post-COVID effects).

Presidential results (county-wide): Raila Odinga (Azimio/ODM) dominated with 71.64% (204,536 votes) vs. William Ruto (UDA) at 27.09% (77,331 votes). Valid votes totalled ~285,496 + rejects. This reflected strong Azimio support along the coast.

Gubernatorial results: Gideon Mung’aro (ODM) won with 50.69% (143,773 votes), beating Aisha Jumwa (UDA) at 23.23% and George Kithi (PAA) at 22.68%.

Women Representative: Gertrude Mbeyu (ODM) won with 39.33% (111,039 votes).

Registered Voters by Constituency and Ward

Here are the IEBC-registered voter figures (per County Assembly Ward/CAW). Kilifi has 35 wards across 7 constituencies:

Kilifi North (116,742 total)

Tezo: 14,830
Sokoni: 23,955
Kibarani: 15,655
Dabaso: 13,717
Matsangoni: 15,168
Watamu: 15,341
Mnarani: 18,076

Kilifi South (97,696 total)

Junju: 15,747
Mwarakaya: 12,714
Shimo La Tewa: 32,052 (largest ward)
Chasimba: 14,090
Mtepeni: 23,093

Kaloleni (73,009 total)

Mariakani: 21,332
Kayafungo: 14,897
Kaloleni: 25,995
Mwanamwinga: 10,785

Rabai (59,165 total)

Mwawesa: 8,793 (smallest ward)
Ruruma: 12,058
Kambe/Ribe: 11,119
Rabai/Kisurutini: 27,195

Ganze (67,257 total)

Ganze: 16,586
Bamba: 18,599
Jaribuni: 12,782
Sokoke: 19,290

Malindi (94,605 total)

Jilore: 10,464
Kakuyuni: 8,750
Ganda: 18,566
Malindi Town: 30,570
Shella: 26,255

Magarini (80,128 total)

Marafa: 9,026
Magarini: 17,099
Gongoni: 17,685
Adu: 16,263
Garashi: 10,466
Sabaki: 9,589

(Full ward-level registered voters from official IEBC PDF.)

Elected MCAs by Ward (IEBC Gazette Results)

ODM performed strongly, winning the majority of the 35 MCA seats (~20+), reflecting the party's coastal dominance. Other wins went to PAA, UDA, independents, ANC, JP, and SPK. Here is the full list of elected MCAs with party and votes garnered (where available from IEBC declarations):

Kilifi North

Tezo: Thomas Mumba Chengo (PAA) – 1,887
Sokoni: Ray Maro Katana (ODM) – 3,099
Kibarani: Moses Furaha Kea (ODM) – 2,010
Dabaso: Emmanuel Changawa Kombe (UDA) – 2,031
Matsangoni: Hassan Mohamed Said (PAA) – 2,059
Watamu: Ibrahim Abdi Athman (ODM) – 2,155
Mnarani: Juma Chengo Thoya (ODM) – 2,427

Kilifi South

Junju: Said Juma Iddi (ODM) – 2,507
Mwarakaya: Stallone Humphrey Mkadi (ODM) – 3,304
Shimo La Tewa: Haron Tete Ndundi (ODM) – 5,789 (highest votes in county)
Chasimba: Ronald Kazungu Mbura (ODM) – 3,287
Mtepeni: Brown Safari Kahindi (ODM) – 2,257

Kaloleni

Mariakani: Martha Koki Musyoki (ODM) – 3,176
Kayafungo: Agnes Sidi (ANC) – 2,049
Kaloleni: Jonathan Birya Fondo (ODM) – 4,148
Mwanamwinga: Edward Kazungu Ziro (IND) – 1,704

Rabai

Mwawesa: Kalama Mumba Ngome (SPK) – 738 (lowest votes)
Ruruma: Naphtali Nyae Kombo (JP) – 2,487
Kambe/Ribe: Morgan Mwagawe Kubo (UDA) – 2,924
Rabai/Kisurutini: Cantona Mae Mwadena (ODM) – 2,738

Ganze

Ganze: Benson Karisa Maneno (ODM) – 3,380
Bamba: Mwambire Mohamed Kadhengi (PAA) – 4,971
Jaribuni: Peter Safari Shehe (UDA) – 3,121
Sokoke: Harrison Taura Mweni (PAA) – 3,837

Malindi

Jilore: Hamisi Mumbo Jambo (ODM) – 1,945
Kakuyuni: Morris Kitsao Hinzano (UDA) – 1,568
Ganda: Oscar Iha Wanje (ODM) – 2,999
Malindi Town: Rashid Odhiambo Ogelo (ODM) – 5,029
Shella: Twaher Abdulkarim Mohamed (ODM) – 3,224

Magarini (partial from available data; pattern holds)

Marafa: Emmanuel Karisa Baya (ODM) – 2,851
Magarini: Paul Charo Kitsao (IND) – 2,432
Gongoni: Baya Stephen Mwaro (party not fully specified in partial data, but fits ODM/IND trend in results) (Additional Magarini wards like Adu, Garashi, Sabaki follow similar low-to-mid vote patterns with mixed parties.)

The 51 MCAs (including nominated) were sworn in on September 20, 2022.

Who Were the Majority of Voters?

Ethnic majority: The vast majority of voters in Kilifi wards are from the Mijikenda ethnic group, particularly the Giriama subgroup (dominant in rural and hinterland areas like Kilifi North, Ganze, and Magarini). Other Mijikenda subgroups (e.g., Chonyi, Rabai) are prominent in specific wards. This is the core voting bloc across most wards.
Demographics: Nationally (and applicable to Kilifi), women made up ~49% of registered voters, and youth (~18-35) ~40%. No ward-specific gender/age turnout data exists publicly, but coastal elections often see strong youth and women participation driven by local issues. Turnout was lower in urban-ish wards like Malindi Town/Shimo La Tewa compared to rural ones.

Voting was heavily influenced by ethnic loyalty to Mijikenda candidates, local patronage, and party machinery (especially ODM's coastal base), rather than strict national tickets.

Manifestos and What “Worked”

Detailed ward-level manifesto analysis is limited in public post-election reports, but patterns from results and coastal politics show:

ODM/Azimio-aligned platforms succeeded most: Promises on local development (roads, water, health facilities, markets, title deeds/land rights, fisheries/agriculture support, and youth jobs) resonated strongly. Coastal grievances like historical land injustice and marginalization played a role. ODM's incumbency advantage and Raila's coastal popularity helped many MCA candidates.
What worked overall:
- Service delivery focus over national ideology (e.g., ODM MCAs in Shimo La Tewa and Malindi Town won big by emphasizing infrastructure).
- Anti-dynasty or “hustler” messaging in some UDA/PAA wins (e.g., in competitive wards like Bamba or Jaribuni), appealing to youth disillusionment.
- Independent/local personality wins (e.g., Mwanamwinga, Magarini) where voters rejected party tickets in favor of known community figures promising direct accountability.
Low turnout suggests manifestos on economic relief (post-COVID, inflation, drought) mattered more than grand promises. Ethnicity and “homeboy/homegirl” factors often trumped detailed policy.