Ol Kalou UDA aspirant George Wambugu speaks to journalists at his home in Ol Kalou on May 9, 2026.
Altered voting patterns and miscalculations cost Mr George Wambugu Kanuri the UDA ticket for the Ol Kalou Constituency by-elections to be held on July 16.
Mr Kanuri, popularly known as Delight, lost the election for the third time, having contested against former MP David Kiaraho in 2017, 2022, and in Saturday’s UDA party nominations.
The businessman lost to Kiaraho's personal assistant, who was later promoted to the Constituency Development Fund manager. Mr Kanuri lost to Mr Samuel Muchina Nyaga with a margin of 144 votes.
Mr Muchina garnered 3221 votes against Delight’s 3077 in an election with poor voter turnout.
Only 8,315 voters participated in the nominations exercise against 75,000 registered voters in 142 polling stations.
In the past elections, Delight performed better in Kaimbaga, Rurii, and Karau Wards but lost Kanjuiri and Mirangine to late MP Kiaraho.
This time round, during the nominations, Delight focused more of his campaigns on former MPs' strongholds, ignoring his three wards within Nyandarua Central, a costly mistake that saw him lose in his own Kanjuiri Ward.
In fact, Mr Muchina got more votes in the Delights Kanjuiri Ward than in any other ward.
At Kanjuiri Ward in Mirangine Sub-county, Delight got 683 votes while Muchina gained 854 votes.
In Mirangine Sub-county, which is made up of Kanjuiri and Mirangine Wards, Delight got 646 votes against Muchina’s 680, meaning Mr Muchina managed to retain his employer's voting bloc while at the same time successfully raiding Delight’s territory.
Samuel Muchina Nyaga displays his provisional certificate of nomination after he was declared the winner in the Ol Kalou UDA nominations on May 8, 2026.
In Kaimbaga, Karau, and Rurii Wards, Delight got 646, 464, and 683 votes against Muchina’s 467, 720, and 500 votes, respectively, meaning Delight managed to win in Rurii Ward alone.
UDA had attracted 10 aspirants, including one woman aspirant, Ms Mary Nyokabi Kamau, who came fourth with 406 votes, while the third position was taken by Peter Njoroge Mugo with 1049 votes.
Former Kuppet Laikipia County secretary Mr Paul Wangenye, who also served as an executive member in former Governor Francis Kimemia's government, emerged last with 52 votes.
Political analysts and residents said Delight lost due to overconfidence and arrogance that saw him lose a good number of his confidants and supporters in the last elections.
“Delight neglected his stronghold, hoping to capture former MP Kiaraho’s territory. He also did not consider Mr Muchina a big threat. He had also lost most of his strategists, especially towards the last leg of the campaign. He was unreachable by his strategists and supporters; he also committed suicide by joining UDA against the advice of his political advisors,” says a local political analyst, Thomas Muchiri.
On the other hand, Mr Muchina had the advantage of having made contacts in all parts of the constituency when he served under the late Kiaraho.
In the last months of Kiaraho's life , Mr Muchina represented the late MP in most functions.
“His slogan during the campaigns motivated many voters. He would say that he was best placed to replace his former boss since they worked very closely, he was aware of all projects initiated by the late MP, and those promised by the national government since he attended all development meetings with the late MP or represented him,” said a voter, Fred Mwangi.
Announcing the results was delayed for hours as the chief agents of the top candidates disputed some of the figures.
By 9pm, all voting materials had arrived at the Mumbi tallying centre, but the two agents had wide consultations with the returning officer, Mr Leo Chege, as the agents disagreed with some entries.
At some point, when the voter got impatient, the Returning Officer had to inform them that due process must be followed before a candidate is declared the winner.
“The two agents and our office have agreed on three of the wards; we are consulting about Mirangine and Kanjuiri wards. I plead with you to allow us time,” pleaded the Returning Officer.
He finally read the results shortly after midnight, declaring Mr Muchina the winner.
UDA elections commissioner Jimmy Kahindi (left) presents a provisional certificate of nomination to Samuel Muchina Nyaga after he was declared the winner in the Ol Kalou UDA nominations on May 8, 2026.
The tallying centre was heavily guarded by a contingent of police officers, including the GSU, administration police, regular police officers, and National Youth Service staff.
Before the verification and tallying started, the RO directed the police officers to cordon off the tallying area, directing the police to occupy the front row seats while others stood guard at all entrances.
None of the UDA allied MPs attended the winner declaration ceremony at Mumbi Comprehensive School.
The nomination exercise started on a low note, with all stations recording poor voter turnout, but the situation improved starting around 11am.
The election officials and leaders blamed the low voter turnout on intimidation by rival political camps.
“There were rumours that those who vote in UDA nominations will not be allowed to vote in DCP primaries. We also had some hired goons threatening the voters with attacks,” said nominated MCA Steve Mureithi.
His sentiments were shared by UDA’s elections commissioner Jimmy Kahindi, who said there was a lot of propaganda and voter intimidation when the exercise started in the morning.
An elderly woman casts her vote at AC Comprehensive School in Ol Kalou during the DCP nominations on May 9, 2026.
The elections officials extended the voting from 5 pm to 6 pm to allow more voters to participate.
The UDA party also invested heavily in electronic voting, where tallying was automatic after a voter cast their vote.
Still, some voters were turned away after their names were missing in the IEBC register.
Simon Muchiri, a voter, complained that he voted at AC Primary School in the 2022 elections but was turned away from the party primaries.
"I went through all the clerks who said my name appeared, but with a mismatch in the national identity card number. I don't know why or how, yet I voted here in the 2017 and 2022 elections," said the voter.
Alice Muthoni traveled from Gilgil to vote at the Huruma polling station, but her name was missing from the register.
"I feel bad; I have wasted my time and money to come vote for my favourite candidate. I'm going back home without having voted. I feel wasted and annoyed," said Ms Muthoni.
Mr Muchina, thanking the voters after he was pronounced the winner, expressed optimism that UDA will win the July elections.
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