The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) has secured a landmark victory in the fiercely contested Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, delivering a major political setback to President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Sammy Kamau Ngotho, who enjoyed the backing of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, emerged victorious after defeating UDA candidate Samuel Muchina Nyaga in a race that had attracted national attention as an early indicator of political influence in the Mount Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The by-election was triggered by the death of former MP David Kiaraho, creating a contest that quickly evolved into a high-stakes political battle between President Ruto and his former deputy, whose influence in the region has increasingly been put under scrutiny.
Throughout the campaign period, both camps deployed senior political leaders to rally support, with UDA framing the contest as an opportunity to reaffirm its dominance in the Mount Kenya region, while Gachagua’s camp portrayed it as a referendum on his continued popularity following his fallout with the Kenya Kwanza administration.
The victory gives DCP its most significant electoral win since the party’s formation and is expected to strengthen Gachagua’s position as he seeks to consolidate support across the region.
The campaign was not without controversy. In the days leading to the vote, both sides exchanged accusations over alleged voter intimidation, security deployments and electoral interference. Gachagua had written to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) raising concerns about the conduct of the election, claims that UDA dismissed as baseless and politically motivated.
The Ol Kalou race had attracted nine candidates but was largely viewed as a two-horse contest between DCP and UDA. Political analysts had described the mini-poll as a critical test of voter sentiment in one of Kenya’s most influential voting blocs.
For President Ruto and UDA, the loss represents a significant political setback in a constituency within the broader Mount Kenya region that has traditionally been considered a key support base. Conversely, the outcome provides fresh momentum for Gachagua and his allies as political realignments gather pace ahead of the next general election.
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