Ol Kalou by-election candidates Sammy Kamau Ngotho (left) of the Democracy for Citizens Party and Samuel Muchina Nyaga of the United Democratic Alliance.
Preparations for the Ol Kalou Constituency by-elections enters a critical stage this week, as candidates submit their nomination papers to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for clearance.
The by-election scheduled for July 16 2026, was occasioned by the death of former Member of Parliament David Kiaraho in March.
It opens another political battle ground for President William Ruto, his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua and former President Uhuru Kenyatta in what is viewed by pundits as an effort to flex muscles over the control of the larger Mount Kenya region politics ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Rival camps have begun their activities, with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) of Dr Ruto setting up a campaign secretariat in Ol Kalou town. This secretariat serves as the command centre for strategy and coordination.
The party has embraced three strategies to secure the seat: canvassing door-to-door, engagements with common interest groups, and hosting traditional public forums.
Four candidates have been cleared by their respective parties – Muchina Nyaga of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Wilson Kigwa (Jubilee), Kamau Ngotho (Democracy for the Citizens Party) and Timothy Kamau (People’s Renaissance Movement (PM) party.
The candidates are expected to submit their papers to the IEBC between May 25 – 26 with UDA having confirmed that their candidate (Mr Nyaga), will submit his party nomination papers on Monday, while DCP’s Mr Ngotho has a date with the IEBC on Tuesday.
By Sunday evening, it was not clear when the Jubilee and PRM party candidates will be presenting their documents to the electoral body.
The Nation has also learnt that the UDA strategy is to target a specific number of voters in every polling station.
"We are ready to present our candidate to the IEBC on Monday at midday. We have had our teams on the ground since the party nominations. We already know our strength since only registered party members participated in the May 8, 2026, party nominations,” Mr Dennis Itumbi said, adding that he would be heading the strategic planning team in the campaigns.
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.
“We have done our arithmetic, and we know how many additional votes we need to win this election," he said.
"We are delivering this seat to UDA through teamwork. We are counting on the UDA government's development performance, supporters, and the completed and ongoing projects. We have the goodwill of our supporters. We are sure of winning this election," said Mr Itumbi.
Going by what has been happening since the UDA party nominations, it is evident that UDA has adopted both public forums and door-to-door campaigns. The public forums include public barazas, while other teams are meeting to persuade common interest groups.
The outdoor campaigns are coordinated by Nyandarua Woman Representative Faith Gitau, and she also enjoys the support of the government and national party officials.
"Ol Kalou residents need to see development projects initiated by the late MP David Kiaraho completed. We are lucky that our UDA candidate, Mr Muchina, worked with Mr Kiaraho for thirteen years as a personal assistant and was later promoted to constituency development fund manager,” Ms Gitau said.
“He (Mr Muchina) is versed with all development projects initiated by the former MP—those that are pending and those that the late Kiaraho requested from the national government," she added.
The entrance of the Jubilee party in the race complicated the arithmetic for the DCP, which now has to battle two rivals, the UDA and Jubilee candidates.
DCP supporters will also be camping in Ol Kalou to counter the rivals, says Leshau Pondo Member of the County Assembly (MCA) Gathungu Kamau, who intends to contest the Ndaragua Parliamentary seat on the DCP ticket in the 2027 poll.
As it is and was the case in the Mbeere North and Emurua Dikirr by-elections, DCP will heavily rely on the goodwill of its allied MPs, MCAs, and those aspiring to contest various seats in next year's general elections.
The contest is expected to be an even more costly affair for the entire Nyandarua political aspirants in next year's general elections, who need to invest heavily in the campaigns for two reasons: to popularise themselves and also to prove their loyalty to their parties and party leadership, a factor perceived to be the best qualification for any DCP aspirant to win by-elections and next year's general elections.
Sammy Kamau Ngotho, winner of the Ol Kalou parliamentary party primaries for the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) at the party headquarters in Nairobi on May 12, 2026.
During the DCP primaries, the process at the polling stations, including the presiding officers, was manned by volunteers who were aspirants from Nyandarua and other parts of the Mt Kenya region.
Mr Nderi Ndiani, a governor aspirant in next year's general elections, said the aspirants came to support the party, and they are still camping in Ol Kalou to support the party and its candidate, and they use their own resources.
DCP Party leader Rigathi Gachagua has also terminated his one-month stay in the UK, just after a week's stay, to be around during the critical campaign period.
The clergy, through the Nyandarua Interfaith Council, has called for peaceful campaigns ahead of the by-election.
"As we expect many politicians from across the country during the campaign period, we urge them to conduct peaceful campaigns, as happened during the party nomination campaigns, where local politicians were more visible with no incidences reported,” said the council chairman, Archbishop Josam Kariuki.
“As the church, we urge the clergy to remain neutral and not to allow the pulpit to be used for divisive politics or insults," he said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.
