Tension gripped parts of Nyandarua County following the Ol Kalou by-election, after the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) secured a decisive victory over the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), triggering political reactions and claims of post-election intimidation.
Official results showed DCP candidate Sammy Kamau Ngotho winning the seat with 35,440 votes, defeating UDA’s Samuel Muchina Nyagah, who garnered 5,450 votes.
The margin of nearly 30,000 votes marked a landslide outcome in a constituency previously seen as politically competitive.
In the aftermath, Head of Presidential Special Projects Denis Itumbi raised alarm over what he described as growing political intolerance in the Mt Kenya region.
He alleged that UDA supporters were targeted following the loss, painting a picture of fear and tension on the ground.
Itumbi claimed he coordinated the evacuation of 20 UDA mobilisers from Rurii in Ol Kalou on the night after the election, saying they feared for their safety.
According to him, the group initially sought refuge at a police station before he arranged hotel accommodation for them.
“They were so shaken that their only request was to spend the night at a police station,” he said, adding that the situation reflected a worrying shift in political conduct.
The by-election, triggered by the death of former MP David Njuguna Kiaraho in March 2026, attracted nine candidates, though it ultimately narrowed into a contest between UDA and DCP.
The outcome handed DCP its first parliamentary seat and was widely viewed as a significant political boost for allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who backed the winning candidate.
Itumbi urged the National Police Service to act swiftly against individuals accused of issuing threats or engaging in violence, emphasizing that democratic competition should not translate into hostility.
“No Kenyan should live in fear because of their political beliefs. Democracy thrives on persuasion, not intimidation,” he stated.
He further questioned the apparent shift in political tolerance, noting that previous by-elections had been conducted without similar incidents.
“We beat Gachagua in other by-elections and embraced those who lost. Why should anyone be chased because they disagreed and lost on the ballot?” he posed.