Security Heightened for Ol Kalou By-Election

More than 1,000 police officers have been deployed to Ol Kalou ahead of Thursday’s parliamentary by-election, with security reinforced by four water cannons and specialized units including the GSU and DCI.

According to the National Police Service, two officers have been assigned to each of the constituency’s 114 polling stations to maintain order during the vote. This heightened security comes in the wake of the political significance of the by-election, which is set to take place following the death of MP David Njuguna Kiaraho on March 29, 2026.

The main contenders in this contest are Samuel Muchina Nyagah of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Sammy Kamau Ngotho of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP). Nyagah secured the UDA nomination with 3,221 votes, narrowly defeating George Wambugu Kanuri, while Ngotho clinched the DCP ticket with 12,957 votes against Paul Waiganjo.

This by-election is seen as a critical political battle, particularly for UDA and DCP, as both parties aim to assert their influence in the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election. Ngotho, who previously served as the first Member of County Assembly for Karau Ward and a protocol officer in the office of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, is looking to leverage his local political experience against Nyagah's UDA backing.

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