NAIROBI, Kenya- Former senior Presidential Adviser Moses Kuria has announced the distribution of 3,000 day-old chicks to families across all five wards of Ol Kalou Constituency, describing the initiative as part of the government’s efforts to improve household incomes, food security and livelihoods ahead of next week’s parliamentary by-election.
In a statement on Friday, Kuria said the programme is intended to empower residents economically and defended the timing of the initiative amid criticism from political opponents.
“The people of Ol Kalou, Nyandarua, Mt Kenya and the rest of Kenya need practical programmes that will improve their lives and create more opportunities,” Kuria said.
He added that communities that had previously been left behind were now benefiting from development programmes, saying those questioning the timing should explain what they achieved when they were in office.
The latest distribution comes as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has raised concerns over alleged voter bribery, misuse of state resources and other breaches of the Electoral Code of Conduct during campaigns for the July 16 by-election.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon has warned that persistent electoral offences, including violence and inducements, could attract sanctions or even affect the conduct of the poll.
Ol Kalou has witnessed an unprecedented wave of government-backed empowerment programmes in recent weeks.
Senior government officials led by Kuria have overseen the distribution of 20,000 subsidised LPG cylinders, Government of Kenya-branded mattresses, boats and fishing gear, blankets, food supplies, and cash donations, while also launching and commissioning several infrastructure and development projects across the constituency.
Government officials have maintained that the initiatives are part of ongoing development programmes rather than campaign activities.
The scale of the giveaways has drawn criticism from opposition leaders, who accuse the government of using public resources to influence voters ahead of the by-election. S
everal opposition politicians have questioned the presence of Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and other senior government officials in the constituency, alleging the programmes amount to voter inducement.
The government has rejected the allegations, insisting it is delivering long-overdue development to residents.
The Ol Kalou parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of former MP David Kiaraho and has become one of the country’s most closely watched political contests, with the ruling UDA facing a stiff challenge from the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).