A screengrab of a video shows hooded men brandishing guns and hurling tear gas canisters at residents and journalists during the Ol Kalou by-elections on July 16, 2026.
The brazen attack on unarmed voters and journalists by hooded gunmen carrying assault rifles during Thursday’s Ol Kalou by-election has heightened security fears and raised fresh questions about Kenya’s preparedness for the 2027 General Election.
The violence, which unfolded in the full view of uniformed police officers, has also intensified concerns over the growing trend of armed gangs disrupting political events without apparent consequence.
The incident came days after separate gun attacks targeting East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) member Kanini Kega and Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata, adding to fears of escalating politically linked violence.
The assault on journalists marked one of the darkest moments in Kenya’s electoral process, in which the media is expected to play a critical role in safeguarding democracy through independent election coverage.
Nation Media Group journalists — Regional Editor Brygettes Ngana, cameraman George Kieru and intern Fabiola Akinyi — were attacked at AC Primary School polling station by men wearing balaclavas, who robbed them at gunpoint of cameras and mobile phones.
The incident also comes against the backdrop of armed gangs operating with apparent impunity in different parts of the country, disrupting political rallies, assaulting people and destroying property, with few arrests reported.
In the by-election, Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Waweru Ngotho won the seat with 35,330 votes, defeating United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah, who garnered 5,460 votes.
Angry residents chase away vehicles carrying hooded gunmen who attempted to force their way into at AC Primary School polling station during the Ol Kalou by-election on July 16, 2026.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga condemned the attack on journalists and the violence witnessed during the poll.
“We condemn the assault on the press by hooded gunmen, whose clear mission is to conceal evidence of electoral malpractice and gross violations of human rights,” Mr Maraga said.
“The reports from the Kenya Human Rights Commission, the Electoral Observation Group and independent journalists on the ground are unanimous: the Ol Kalou by-election represents the most serious degradation of our democracy yet,” he added.
The United Green Movement co-party leader said the violence amounted to “impunity wearing the mask of an election”.
“This is not democracy; it is impunity wearing the mask of an election. It is an assault on the sovereign will of our people, carried out in broad daylight and financed, by all credible accounts, with the resources of the very State constitutionally bound to protect the ballot,” he said.
Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua speaks to the media at the party offices in Nairobi on July 10, 2026.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua claimed President William Ruto, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja were aware of the attacks by masked men and women.
“The fact that 2,000 police officers were deployed across the 144 polling stations in Ol Kalou in an attempt to intimidate voters, yet failed, speaks for itself,” said Mr Gachagua, the DCP party leader.
Mr Gachagua, Mr Maraga, Jubilee deputy party leader Fred Matiang’i and civil society activists questioned the identity of the armed attackers and why they had not been arrested despite operating openly.
Speaking during the opening of Kenyaluk Medical Centre in Baringo County, Mr Murkomen dismissed claims that the State was behind the violence.
“I want to assure the country that there is no parallel security system in this nation. There is only one Inspector-General of Police and one National Police Service, accountable to the people of Kenya through civilian oversight, including the Cabinet Secretary,” Mr Murkomen said.
“I have instructed the Inspector-General to take firm action against anyone involved in goonism or violence, regardless of political affiliation.”
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i warned that political violence had reached dangerous levels.
“In the history of our country’s politics, we have never seen such wanton political violence perpetrated and perpetuated by government-aligned leaders,” Dr Matiang’i said.
He questioned why the government had failed in its constitutional duty to protect citizens.
“The government has ample resources and intelligence to track, monitor and even abduct political critics, yet claims to be powerless when goons are openly mobilised with weapons to attack people.”
A man brandishes a button as residents of Ol Kalou chase away vehicles carrying hooded gunmen who attempted to force their way into at AC Primary School polling station during the Ol Kalou by-election on July 16, 2026.
Dr Matiang’i argued that with administrators, intelligence officers and police deployed across the country, such attacks could not occur without the knowledge — or complicity — of local security commanders.
“When chaos eventually escalates out of control, the very monsters they create will turn on them, and no one — not even those in power with heavy security details — will be safe,” he warned.
Inspector-General Kanja and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had earlier announced that 1,000 police officers would be deployed to secure the by-election.
Despite repeated assurances from Mr Murkomen that action would be taken against armed gangs, critics say no meaningful action has followed, emboldening those behind the violence.
Hooded gunmen
Nairobi advocate Kipkirui Kemboi Kap Telwa questioned how heavily armed attackers were able to operate in broad daylight without arrest.
“The fact that the attacks were carried out in broad daylight by men in Sports Utility Vehicles with traceable number plates, and that the hooded men and women carried rifles, fired live ammunition and lobbed tear gas at innocent Kenyans, is deeply worrying,” he said.
“How will the government convince Kenyans that these hooded gunmen were not State agents when they have not been arrested and were allowed to operate with impunity while attacking unarmed voters and journalists?”
Former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka alleged that masked officers had been deployed to intimidate voters.
“Bribery was deployed without shame and on such a large scale that it can only be described as disgusting. Intimidation became State policy in a desperate attempt to suppress the will of the people,” Mr Musyoka said.
Wiper Patriotic Front party leader Kalonzo Musyoka addresses the media on the escalating political violence in the country in Nairobi on July 14, 2026.
He said Ol Kalou voters had set the pace for the country ahead of the 2027 General Election.
People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua accused the IEBC of failing to guarantee security during the poll.
“The IEBC has demonstrated that it cannot guarantee a free and fair election in 2027. They want to muzzle the press so they can operate in darkness and rig the election,” Ms Karua said.
The Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) also condemned the violence, intimidation and harassment of accredited journalists.
Executive Director Frankline Mukwanja said excessive force by security agencies and attacks on the media undermined the credibility of elections.
“The media plays an indispensable role in safeguarding electoral transparency and public accountability. Any attempt to intimidate accredited journalists undermines the integrity and credibility of the electoral process,” Mr Mukwanja said.
CMD warned that the events in Ol Kalou threatened Kenya’s democratic stability and deepened public mistrust in electoral, security and justice institutions.
“The lessons from Ol Kalou must inform urgent electoral, security and institutional reforms to ensure future elections are peaceful, credible and reflective of the sovereign will of the people,” Mr Mukwanja said.
The organisation also called for prompt, impartial and transparent investigations into all reported incidents of violence and interference with media freedom.
“Those responsible, irrespective of status or political affiliation, must be held accountable.”
Human rights activist Boniface Mwangi alleged that the attackers were security officers operating in civilian clothing.
“The 58 million Kenyans will not accept being terrorised by a few rogue police officers carrying out illegal orders. We shall only obey orders from uniformed and clearly identifiable officers,” he said.
Busia Senator and presidential hopeful Okiya Omtatah said the by-election had shown that sovereign power ultimately rests with citizens.
“No amount of intimidation, patronage or abuse of State power can defeat citizens who choose to defend their vote and their Constitution,” he said.
According to witnesses, the violence erupted after youths searched police officers and official vehicles before allowing them into AC Primary School polling station.
A driver of another vehicle allegedly tried to force his way into the polling station but was blocked by the youths, who demanded to identify the occupants.
The vehicle reversed and parked about 100 metres away before three unmarked vehicles arrived. Witnesses said their occupants emerged and began assaulting the youths while firing live rounds and lobbing tear-gas canisters.
Anti-riot police officers alight from a truck outside AC Primary School polling Station after a crowd engaged hooded gunmen in running battles during the Ol Kalou by-election on July 16, 2026.
Some youths fled while others fought back with stones as more than 30 uniformed police officers looked on. It was during the chaos that the Nation Media Group journalists were attacked and robbed.
One police officer, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, questioned why officers were not ordered to intervene.
“I kept waiting for our seniors to order us to defend the polling station and the voters, but that order never came. It was humiliating to find ourselves being tear-gassed alongside the residents by people described as goons,” he said.
He added: “What we know is that those were not goons but police officers assigned a dirty job. No armed civilian gang would dare carry out daylight attacks and fire live bullets in the presence of other police officers.”
In Ol Kalou town, witnesses said occupants of more than 10 unmarked vehicles sped through the streets while firing into the air.
The violence unfolded despite earlier assurances by IEBC Commissioner Hassan Noor, Central Regional Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha and Nyandarua County Commissioner Abdirisack Jaldesa that unmarked vehicles would not be allowed in Ol Kalou during the election period.
Ol Kalou MP-elect Sammy Waweru Ngotho delivers his speech after being announced the winner at Ol Kalou Senior School Tallying Centre on July 17, 2026.
Ol Kalou MP-elect Kamau Ngotho praised the conduct of uniformed police officers deployed at polling stations but demanded action against those behind the attacks.
“I stand here today to thank and commend police officers in uniform attached to the local polling stations and patrols. You were very professional in handling the emerging security issues,” he said.
“We demand action against officers who acted like hired goons by attacking innocent voters and members of the media. We want them arrested and charged. We have their photographs and all the evidence required.”
Resident Silverstor Mwaniki said Kenyans were now confronted by different categories of armed gangs.
“We now have police officers identified as goons, goons who work alongside police during demonstrations, and goons attached to politicians,” he said.
“The only difference is that those within the police service have specific missions and targets. They are always in a hurry to complete their assignments and appear more confident. There is little or no destruction of property where this category is deployed, unlike the criminal gangs we see operating under police protection.”
“Those attached to politicians are worse. They will kill, rob or do anything at the slightest provocation,” he added.
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