President William Ruto (left) and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. (Inset) the late Ol Kalou MP David Njuguna Kiaraho.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has formally declared the Ol Kalou parliamentary seat vacant following the death of area MP David Kiaraho, setting the stage for a high-stakes by-election that has already attracted at least 20 aspirants.
In a gazette notice issued on Tuesday night, Mr Wetang’ula notified the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of the vacancy and directed the commission to conduct a by-election within 90 days in line with Article 101(4) of the Constitution.
Kiaraho, a three-term legislator, died on March 29, 2026 while undergoing cancer treatment at Nairobi Hospital.
The Speaker’s declaration now clears the way for the IEBC to begin preparations for the mini-poll in a contest that is shaping up into a major political battle in Nyandarua County.
Even before the seat was officially declared vacant, political activity had intensified in the constituency, with at least four political formations — the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), Jubilee Party and a coalition of smaller allied parties — positioning themselves for the race.
The by-election is expected to draw at least 20 aspirants, underscoring the strategic importance of the constituency as parties seek to test their strength in the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Jubilee Party, which is part of the opposition coalition, has already confirmed it will field a candidate to defend the seat, arguing that the constituency remains politically aligned to the party despite Kiaraho having won it on a Jubilee ticket in 2022.
DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua has also insisted his party will field a candidate, saying the contest offers an opportunity to measure each party’s popularity in the region.
On the other hand, UDA is keen to win the seat as President William Ruto’s allies seek to contain growing opposition influence in the Mt Kenya region.
The race is also expected to attract independent and smaller party candidates who could play a spoiler role in what is shaping into one of the most closely watched by-elections in recent months.
IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon is now expected to announce the by-election date as the commission begins the formal process of preparing for the poll.
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Additional reporting by Mary Wangari
