NAIROBI, Kenya- Nyeri senatorial aspirant and former Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando has hailed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for what he described as a well-executed political strategy that helped the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) secure a decisive victory in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
In a statement posted after the declaration of the results, Kabando said Gachagua had been underestimated by his political opponents but had demonstrated effective political organisation through a network of party officials and grassroots mobilisers.
“He was underrated. Rigathi’s superb strategic skills, via elaborate DCP delegated stewards, delivered Ol Kalou to spur a nation’s hope,” Kabando said.
The July 16 by-election ended with DCP candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru defeating United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Samuel Muchina Nyaga by a wide margin, in a contest widely viewed as the first major electoral test between President William Ruto’s allies and Gachagua since the former deputy president launched DCP.
Throughout the campaign, Gachagua maintained a relatively low physical profile in Ol Kalou, choosing instead to coordinate the campaign remotely while leaving day-to-day mobilisation to a team led by Nyandarua Senator John Methu and other DCP leaders.
The former deputy president addressed supporters through virtual appearances and repeatedly described the by-election as a referendum on the government’s popularity in the Mt Kenya region.
Kabando argued that the result vindicated Gachagua’s strategy.
He further linked the victory to the growing “Wantam” movement, a political slogan championed by Gachagua and his allies, which calls for President Ruto to serve only one term in office.
“The truth is that RiggyG is shepherding the WANTAM movement to rescue our motherland from gluttonous Ruto jaws. Wamùnyoro spirit triumphs,” Kabando said.
The “Wantam” slogan has become a central rallying cry for sections of the opposition ahead of the 2027 General Election, with President Ruto publicly dismissing the campaign and insisting his administration will not be distracted by it.
The Ol Kalou contest attracted intense national attention after weeks of campaigning by senior government officials, including President Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and several Cabinet Secretaries, who campaigned for the UDA candidate.
Following the DCP victory, Gachagua declared the outcome marked “the death of UDA” in the Mt Kenya region, while several political figures described the result as a significant boost for the former deputy president’s influence ahead of the 2027 elections.