NAIROBI, Kenya- Fresh details have emerged linking the hooded, heavily armed men who terrorised voters, journalists and residents during the July 16 Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election to political figures, raising new questions over who deployed the squad, under whose command it operated, and what mission it was executing on election day.
The armed group, which moved around the constituency in a convoy of luxury Toyota Prado SUVs and other high-end vehicles, was seen carrying assault rifles and teargas launchers as it stormed several polling stations, fired teargas, shot into the air and assaulted journalists in broad daylight.
Their actions unfolded in full view of uniformed police officers, many of whom appeared stunned as the masked men took control of streets around key polling centres.
One video circulating online captures a resident asking a police officer, “Who are these people?” moments after a teargas canister was fired in the officer’s direction without provocation, forcing both civilians and officers to seek cover.
The men were dressed in plain clothes, wore hoods that concealed their identities, and appeared to operate independently of the regular police command structure.
At several polling stations, uniformed officers kept their distance as the armed squad dispersed crowds and moved freely through Ol Kalou town.
The violence has since become one of the defining images of the fiercely contested by-election.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) distanced itself from the hooded men, insisting they were not part of the official election security deployment.
Commissioner Hassan Noor Hassan reiterated that the commission had earlier directed security agencies to impound any unmarked vehicles interfering with the electoral process.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen subsequently ordered investigations into the incident, directing the Inspector General of Police to establish who deployed the armed men and warning that anyone found culpable, including security officers, would face the law.
“These allegations of hooded persons causing havoc in Ol Kalou must be investigated thoroughly, and anyone culpable must be arrested, regardless of who deployed them,” Murkomen said.
However, despite the directive, no arrests or official findings had been announced by Saturday, even as pressure mounted for authorities to explain the identity of the armed squad.
MP Captured With Armed Men
Further controversy has emerged after videos circulated online appeared to show a serving Member of Parliament from Kiambu County alighting from one of the Prado SUVs while in the company of hooded armed men.
The legislator is seen briefly speaking to several individuals before rejoining the convoy, whose occupants were later filmed confronting members of the public.
Witnesses described scenes of panic after two armed hooded men fired multiple rounds into the air for nearly a minute near one of the polling centres.
Some uniformed officers were heard expressing concern, with one remarking that “this is not good” as the shooting continued.
Residents fled for safety while others remained near polling stations despite the chaos, saying they wanted to ensure voting continued and ballot boxes remained secure.
Journalists covering the election also reported being assaulted, with some robbed of cameras and equipment during the confrontations.
Violence Fails to Change Outcome
Despite the dramatic security incidents, voters turned out in significant numbers.
According to the IEBC, voter turnout stood at 57 percent.
When counting concluded, the Rigathi Gachagua-led Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Kamau Ngotho secured a landslide victory over UDA’s Samuel Muchina Nyagah, winning by more than 30,000 votes.
The result handed DCP its biggest political victory yet and dealt a significant setback to President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance in what had become one of the country’s most closely watched by-elections.
Massive State Investment
The defeat came despite an intensive government-backed campaign that lasted more than two months.
President William Ruto’s team led by Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Members of Parliament and senior UDA leaders camped in the constituency, launching development projects and leading campaign rallies.
The campaign was also marked by widespread voter inducements, including distribution of cash, government-branded mattresses, LPG cylinders, boats and other items.
Human rights organisations, including Amnesty Kenya and the Kenya Human Rights Commission, had warned before polling day that allegations of voter bribery, misuse of public resources and intimidation threatened the credibility of the election and called for investigations into any election offences.
On the voting day, some residents received cash from a logistics firm on behalf of the UDA candidate.
Some of the messages seen by Y News show some received at least Sh500, which was to be a ‘transport fee’.
Hours after the campaign period was over, some state agencies continued with some projects meant to influence the locals.
Muted Response After Defeat
Following the declaration of results, several senior government officials publicly congratulated the winning DCP candidate.
However, none addressed the violence involving the hooded armed squad that had dominated election-day coverage.
Meanwhile, UDA leaders from the Mt Kenya region said they were reviewing the outcome and promised to issue a major political statement after analysing the defeat.
As investigations remain pending, the unanswered questions surrounding the identity of the hooded men, who deployed them and whether their actions amounted to unlawful interference in the electoral process continue to cast a shadow over one of Kenya’s most politically significant by-elections.