OL KALOU, Kenya- Emotions ran high during a requiem ceremony held for two men killed during the violence that rocked the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, as families, political leaders and mourners demanded justice for the victims.
The newly elected Ol Kalou Member of Parliament, Sammy Douglas Waweru Kamau, played what he described as a recording capturing the final moments of one of the deceased men, leaving mourners in tears and reigniting calls for investigations into the killings.
According to the MP, the recording contained the victim’s last words before he was killed during the chaos that unfolded on election day.
Waweru alleged that the attackers were individuals who appeared to be police officers or members of a security-linked group, accusing them of participating in the killings.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and investigations are expected to establish what happened.
The deaths occurred amid reports of violence during the Ol Kalou by-election, which saw intense political competition between the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru and United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Samuel Muchina.
Waweru was declared the winner of the contest.
During the memorial service, mourners described the two men as innocent victims whose deaths had left families devastated.
The MP called for accountability, saying those responsible must face justice regardless of their affiliation.
“This is not about politics anymore. These are lives that were lost, and their families deserve answers,” Waweru told mourners.
The killings have intensified scrutiny over security conduct during the by-election, with rights groups and political actors calling for a transparent investigation into allegations of excessive force and violence.
The National Police Service has previously maintained that officers deployed during elections are tasked with maintaining law and order, while any allegations of misconduct should be investigated through the appropriate channels.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and other investigative agencies have the mandate to examine complaints involving police officers and determine whether criminal responsibility exists.
As families continue mourning, pressure is mounting on authorities to establish who was responsible for the deaths and bring those found culpable to justice.
