OL KALOU, Nyandarua- Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has embarked on a political victory lap after the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) secured a resounding victory in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, using the outcome to declare that the Mt Kenya region has rejected President William Ruto’s political camp.
Speaking after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared DCP candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru the winner, Gachagua described the result as a defining political statement ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“The people of Ol Kalou have spoken. The Mountain has spoken. This victory belongs to the people who refused to surrender their democratic rights despite immense pressure,” Gachagua said after the results were announced.
The by-election had evolved into one of the country’s fiercest political contests, drawing senior Kenya Kwanza leaders, including Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and dozens of Members of Parliament who campaigned extensively for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate.
‘You Defeated the Entire State’
Addressing supporters during celebrations, Gachagua showered praise on Waweru, saying he had overcome what he portrayed as the full machinery of government.
“You fought a hard fight against a president, a deputy president, seven Cabinet ministers, 16 principal secretaries, 91 MPs, a train, two boats, 2,000 police officers, mattresses, shoes, goons, Sh14 billion worth of projects and Sh1.1 billion in cash, and you became victorious. Wewe ni mtoto wa Mungu,” Gachagua said.
The former deputy president argued that the result was not merely the election of an MP but a referendum on the government’s popularity in the Mt Kenya region.
A Major Political Blow
The Ol Kalou contest attracted national attention after the government rolled out several development initiatives during the campaign period while top Kenya Kwanza leaders pitched camp in the constituency.
The race was also marred by claims of voter bribery, violence and heightened security deployment, prompting fierce exchanges between DCP leaders, the government and the electoral commission.
On polling day, Gachagua urged residents to guard their votes, but the IEBC insisted the electoral process was secure and urged voters not to be incited, saying adequate security had been deployed and only the commission had the constitutional mandate to declare results.
DCP’s First Parliamentary Seat
The victory handed DCP its first parliamentary seat since the party’s formation, a milestone Gachagua described as the beginning of a wider political shift.
He thanked Ol Kalou voters for what he called their courage in resisting intimidation and inducements, saying the outcome demonstrated that voters could not be swayed by state resources alone.
Political analysts are already interpreting the result as an early indicator of the battle for influence in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 elections, with Gachagua expected to use the emphatic victory to rally support for DCP across the region.