The battle to control the National Assembly between Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party and Kenya Kwanza will be decided on Monday, August 29, when four constituencies go to the polls.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will conduct the mini-polls in Kacheliba, Rongai, Kitui Rural and Pokot South constituencies after they were postponed following a mix up in printing of ballot papers.

Depending with the outcome of the polls, either Azimio or Kenya Kwanza will enjoy boosted numbers and majority in the House.

The races will once again pit the two coalitions, with candidates drawn from each side expected to face off.

In Rongai constituency, Nakuru county, KANU’s Raymond Moi is battling to defend his seat against Paul Chebor of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Chama Cha Mashinani's Luka Kigen.

KANU - which is a signatory party under the Azimio la Umoja - will look to wade-off UDA’s wave which bagged the majority of seats in the Rift Valley county.

A win for KANU would also be a reprieve for former President Daniel Moi’s family after the party leader, Gideon Moi, was defeated in the Baringo senatorial race.

The race in Kacheliba, which is located in West Pokot county, will pit UDA’s Mark Lomunokol against Titus Lotee of the Kenya Union Party (KUP). KUP was formed by former West Pokot governor, John Lonyangapuo, and Pokot South Member of Parliament, David Pkosing. The party is also a member of the Azimio la Umoja coalition.

In Pokot South, the contest will be between Pkosing and Simon Kalekem of UDA. The West Pokot county is predominantly a UDA zone after the Kenya Kwanza party swept almost all elective seats in the August 9 polls.

In Kitui Rural, Wiper’s David Mboni Mwalika is running against Charles Nyamai of UDA.

Once determined, the four races will pave way for the publication of the final list of nominated MPs by the IEBC. According to the IEBC, the number of nominations slots allocated to the parties will be determined by the number of MPs each party has in the House. 

Principals and politicians from both coalitions have been campaigning for their respective candidates. UDA bigwigs have in the past two days led campaigning for the party's candidates in the constituencies. 

On Wednesday, August 24, deputy president-elect, Rigathi Gachagua, and a host of leaders elected under the party led a caravan that traversed Rongai constituency to campaign for Paul Chebor. Gachagua rallied Rongai residents to elect a UDA MP, arguing that the constituency would benefit once the party forms the next government. 

"Being in the opposition is an accident, it is everyone's wish to be in the government," Gachagua remarked while campaigning in Rongai. 

The UDA caravan also toured Kacheliba and Pokot South constituencies rallying support for the party's candidates. 

Wiper party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, also led the campaigns for David Mbooni who is seeking to wrestle his opponents to retain the seat. 

Parliament is expected to convene for the first sitting of the 13th Parliament after the gazettement of the official date in line with the constitutional requirement that the first sitting should be within thirty days.

Election of the Speaker will be among the first agenda, hence the desperate strive for numbers by the two political formations.