Parliamentary elections were held in Kiribati on 29 November 2002, with a second round on 8 December.[1] The result was a victory for the new Pillars of Truth party, which won 17 of the 40 seats in the House of Assembly. Fourteen MPs, including seven cabinet ministers, lost their seats in the election.[1]
A total of 176 candidates contested the election, with over half running under the banner of the ruling Protect the Maneaba party.[1]
A bitter election campaign included opposition leader Harry Tong accusing the government of attempting to prevent him using the national coat of arms on his campaign material, which also claiming that Chinese government officials were attempting to bribe candidates.[1] In response, the ruling party accused the opposition of siding with Taiwan.[1]
| Constituency | Candidate | First round | Second round | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |||
| align=left rowspan=10 | Emile Uri Shutz | align=center colspan=2 | ||||
| Teatao Teannaki | align=center colspan=2 | 937 | 28.67 | |||
| Bauro Tongaai | align=center colspan=2 | 902 | 27.60 | |||
| Kautu Tenaaua | align=center colspan=2 | 822 | 25.15 | |||
| Uakerita Kanoanie | align=center colspan=2 | 607 | 18.57 | |||
| Nabura Nikuata | align=center colspan=2 | |||||
| Rabeka T. Rikameta | align=center colspan=2 | |||||
| Ratinta Moote | align=center colspan=2 | |||||
| Nauto Tekai | align=center colspan=2 | |||||
| Atanibora Tataua | align=center colspan=2 | |||||
| align=left rowspan=5 | Natan Teewe | 661 | 31.09 | |||
| Willie Tokataake | 607 | 28.55 | 527 | 47.74 | ||
| Baitongo Taburimai | 416 | 19.57 | 266 | 24.09 | ||
| Kabure Temariti | 266 | 12.51 | 311 | 28.17 | ||
| Amwatia Maerietoa | 176 | 8.28 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=2 | Amberoti Nikora | 240 | 61.54 | |||
| Tekabang Ratintera | 150 | 38.46 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=5 | Teima Onorio | 257 | 38.88 | 293 | 48.67 | |
| Itaea Riteri | 190 | 28.74 | 179 | 29.73 | ||
| Uria Mataio | 109 | 16.49 | 130 | 21.59 | ||
| Ruewita Iotin | 88 | 13.31 | ||||
| Tebwatoki Tawetia | 17 | 2.57 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=4 | Timon A. Aneri | 82 | 50.62 | |||
| Kakiaterara Bauretia | 30 | 18.52 | ||||
| Nenem Kourabi | 27 | 16.67 | ||||
| Aberaam Tewai | 23 | 14.20 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=9 | Tetabo Nakara | 595 | 33.02 | |||
| Kirabuke Teiaua | 230 | 12.76 | 325 | 32.66 | ||
| Biribo Neemia | 225 | 12.49 | 401 | 40.30 | ||
| Tewareka Borau | 208 | 11.54 | 269 | 27.04 | ||
| Tokintekai Uereti | 188 | 10.43 | ||||
| Tiraim Aaram | 159 | 8.82 | ||||
| Arobete Iuta | 155 | 8.60 | ||||
| Katiotio Reirei | 22 | 1.22 | ||||
| Rameka Barao | 20 | 1.11 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=13 | Betio (BTC) | Tamwi Naotarai | 1,879 | 24.43 | 2,247 | 31.18 |
| Reete Bokai | 1,255 | 16.32 | 2,023 | 28.07 | ||
| Teiraoi Tetabea | 1,044 | 13.58 | 1,416 | 19.65 | ||
| Tonganibeia Taam | 800 | 10.40 | 1,521 | 21.10 | ||
| Mere T Rivata | 610 | 7.93 | ||||
| Baikia Airam | 577 | 7.50 | ||||
| Harry Redfern | 369 | 4.80 | ||||
| Teaki Kanoanie | 336 | 4.37 | ||||
| Raoranti J Muller | 240 | 3.12 | ||||
| Ngutu Awira | 229 | 2.98 | ||||
| Atanimarewe Atintoa | 163 | 2.12 | ||||
| Kantara Baurerei | 117 | 1.52 | ||||
| Itinteang Tenano | 71 | 0.92 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=6 | Uera Rabaua | 745 | 27.85 | |||
| Tinian Relher | 511 | 19.10 | 635 | 44.34 | ||
| Tiim Taekiti | 499 | 18.65 | 377 | 26.33 | ||
| Toakai Koririntetaake | 494 | 18.47 | 420 | 29.33 | ||
| Alexander Teabo | 279 | 10.43 | ||||
| Fenua Mareweia | 147 | 5.50 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=18 | Taunga Smith | 618 | 17.94 | 951 | 28.46 | |
| Tawita Temoku | 489 | 14.20 | 929 | 27.80 | ||
| Teambo Keariki | 462 | 13.41 | 652 | 19.51 | ||
| Jacob Teem | 459 | 13.33 | 810 | 24.24 | ||
| Itua Binataake | 346 | 10.05 | ||||
| Bunatao Arioka | 218 | 6.33 | ||||
| Tekinaiti Kaiteie | 146 | 4.24 | ||||
| Aneri Ari | 118 | 3.43 | ||||
| Rutio Bangao | 116 | 3.37 | ||||
| Rereao Tebau | 105 | 3.05 | ||||
| Temari Manoa | 87 | 2.53 | ||||
| Tiaon Noteabu | 75 | 2.18 | ||||
| Etekia Kunei | 74 | 2.15 | ||||
| Teoro Teatea | 37 | 1.07 | ||||
| Moiaua Toariri | 29 | 0.84 | ||||
| Kamatua Bukaireiti | 25 | 0.73 | ||||
| Martin M Boutu | 24 | 0.70 | ||||
| Uriam Williams | 16 | 0.46 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=4 | Baraniko Moa | 233 | 44.21 | 235 | 37.01 | |
| Bakeua Tekita | 201 | 38.14 | 253 | 39.84 | ||
| Karotu Teimarawa | 88 | 16.70 | 147 | 23.15 | ||
| Nawaia Tekeea | 5 | 0.95 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=5 | Anote Tong | 591 | 31.09 | |||
| Rotite Uriam | 453 | 23.83 | 382 | 36.59 | ||
| Moteti Kakoroa | 412 | 21.67 | 361 | 34.58 | ||
| Teiwaki Areieta | 357 | 18.78 | 301 | 28.83 | ||
| Tabia Kabaua | 88 | 4.63 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=6 | James Taom | 288 | 37.16 | 342 | 44.88 | |
| Kouramaere Kautoa | 194 | 25.03 | 231 | 30.31 | ||
| Marouea Kamraratu | 140 | 18.06 | 189 | 24.80 | ||
| Kiatamoa Kaitara | 70 | 9.03 | ||||
| Mwamwau Taake | 56 | 7.23 | ||||
| Kauaba Ibutuna | 27 | 3.48 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=7 | Temate Ereateti | 375 | 20.12 | 440 | 25.64 | |
| Rutiano Benetito | 353 | 18.94 | 484 | 28.21 | ||
| Manraoi Kaiea | 315 | 16.90 | 391 | 22.79 | ||
| Patrick J Tatireta | 313 | 16.79 | 401 | 23.37 | ||
| Ataraoti Bwebwenibure | 275 | 14.75 | ||||
| Tam'atau Baraam | 128 | 6.87 | ||||
| Anetoka Babetara | 105 | 5.63 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=9 | Rimeta Beniamina | 477 | 34.44 | |||
| Teweia Awira | 217 | 15.67 | 308 | 39.19 | ||
| Ioane Tokintekai | 208 | 15.02 | 232 | 29.52 | ||
| Kaaneang Betero | 120 | 8.66 | 246 | 31.30 | ||
| Temaro Bamatoa | 101 | 7.29 | ||||
| Mikaio Rorobuaka | 101 | 7.29 | ||||
| Tewake Taniara | 77 | 5.56 | ||||
| Tieon Kaeba | 60 | 4.33 | ||||
| Timwa Teimakin | 24 | 1.73 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=7 | Ieremia Tabai | 592 | 31.67 | |||
| Waysang Kum Kee | 465 | 24.88 | 488 | 43.30 | ||
| Ata Etekia | 413 | 22.10 | 176 | 15.62 | ||
| Katua Tabunga | 170 | 9.10 | 463 | 41.08 | ||
| Kunei Etekiera | 120 | 6.42 | ||||
| Bitamoana Bureneita | 92 | 4.92 | ||||
| Teetu Teinai | 17 | 0.91 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=6 | North Tarawa (ETC) | Katotika Tekee | 915 | 30.21 | ||
| Bauro Tenano | 688 | 22.71 | 681 | 42.70 | ||
| Katarake Tebweao | 565 | 18.65 | 394 | 24.70 | ||
| Nabuti Mwemwenikarawa | 474 | 15.65 | 520 | 32.60 | ||
| Bwateriki Bwaree | 349 | 11.52 | ||||
| Namwanoku Tekanene | 38 | 1.25 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=6 | Natanaera Kirata | 394 | 29.08 | |||
| Beta Tentoa | 355 | 26.20 | 343 | 45.67 | ||
| Nutea Williams | 247 | 18.23 | 259 | 34.49 | ||
| Riteti Eritama | 144 | 10.63 | 149 | 19.84 | ||
| Benati Nenebati | 108 | 7.97 | ||||
| Katatia Tauteang | 107 | 7.90 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=16 | South Tarawa (TUC) | Harry Tong | 3,517 | 26.65 | ||
| Teburoro Tito | 3,279 | 24.85 | 3,426 | 31.08 | ||
| Roniti Teiwaki | 1,219 | 9.24 | 3,037 | 27.55 | ||
| Tabwea Teitiniman | 1,215 | 9.21 | 1,758 | 15.95 | ||
| Bweitu Nabau | 854 | 6.47 | 2,801 | 25.41 | ||
| Nauan Bauro | 748 | 5.67 | ||||
| Tom Awira | 515 | 3.90 | ||||
| Biara Teanoana | 342 | 2.59 | ||||
| Tetika Teraku | 304 | 2.30 | ||||
| Tekarei Russell | 297 | 2.25 | ||||
| Abureti Takaio | 226 | 1.71 | ||||
| Bwenawa Io | 209 | 1.58 | ||||
| Mautaake Tannang | 182 | 1.38 | ||||
| Paul Tatireta | 138 | 1.05 | ||||
| Kaobunang Areieta | 102 | 0.77 | ||||
| Burataea Kaibaki | 50 | 0.38 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=5 | Tabiteuea North | Taberannang Timeon | 878 | 34.72 | ||
| Teaiwa Tenieu | 619 | 24.48 | 500 | 36.42 | ||
| Martin Puta Tofinga | 578 | 22.85 | 700 | 50.98 | ||
| Tetaua Taitai | 397 | 15.70 | 173 | 12.60 | ||
| Tebaniman Tito | 57 | 2.25 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=4 | Tabiteuea South | Riino Nautonga | 219 | 43.98 | 245 | 49.60 |
| Nantokana Meritera | 165 | 33.13 | 221 | 44.74 | ||
| Tekaruru Teatau | 79 | 15.86 | 28 | 5.67 | ||
| Karotu Teubwaitoi | 35 | 7.03 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=8 | Kokoria Rakoroa | 145 | 23.27 | 187 | 24.38 | |
| Tiinia Mariano | 140 | 22.47 | 480 | 62.58 | ||
| Tiare Bauro | 101 | 16.21 | 100 | 13.04 | ||
| Bakatie | 100 | 16.05 | ||||
| Rooti Teaotai | 65 | 10.43 | ||||
| Tauiaong Chin Song | 36 | 5.78 | ||||
| Taan | 28 | 4.49 | ||||
| Vakariki Maiolonga | 8 | 1.28 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=3 | Kabetite Mwetaka | 327 | 71.24 | |||
| Tabuata Tibereta | 84 | 18.30 | ||||
| Toakauriri Autaene | 48 | 10.46 | ||||
| align=left rowspan=10 | Tetaake Eria | 125 | 29.27 | 186 | 43.16 | |
| Raerang Teangauba | 88 | 20.61 | 130 | 30.16 | ||
| Koureia Uereie | 81 | 18.97 | 115 | 26.68 | ||
| Kantara Beiaun | 72 | 16.86 | ||||
| Kieni Kanitou | 18 | 4.22 | ||||
| Tuua Tebiria | 16 | 3.75 | ||||
| Ritiata E Matiare | 9 | 2.11 | ||||
| Taburimai Baabu | 7 | 1.64 | ||||
| Tuangeri Roubena | 7 | 1.64 | ||||
| Baiteke Terii | 4 | 0.94 | ||||
Following the election, three independents allied with the Pillars of Truth. The new MPs were sworn in on 9 January 2003.[1]