Why ‘Nation’ should revisit the Ol Kalou by-election campaigns
Government officials, led by Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira, pose for a group photo with some residents of Ol Kalou who were presented with six-kilogram gas cylinders each on July 7, 2026.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
While the voters ultimately exercised their right to pick their candidate of choice, it is the environment under which they voted that is worrying.
On the violence, it is clear from the clips of the incidents that the hooded and armed gangs that terrorise and abduct Kenyans enjoy protection.
The Nation platforms have been relentless in exposing the criminal activities in Ol Kalou in the run-up to and during last week’s parliamentary by-election. Part of the outstanding coverage was an investigative report by NTV titled “The Ol Kalou crime scene: Unmasking the faces behind by-election bribery and chaos”.
The journalists trained their cameras on these individuals as they distributed cash at campaign meetings. Some of them later masked their faces, armed themselves and terrorised residents and their perceived rivals. The Nation team later revealed the faces and names behind the masks as well as the owner of at least one of the vehicles involved.
