OL KALOU, Nyandarua- Thousands of voters streamed into polling stations across Ol Kalou Constituency from as early as 6 a.m. Thursday, braving the biting cold to cast their ballots in a fiercely contested parliamentary by-election seen as a major political test ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Long queues had already formed at several polling centres before voting officially began, with residents wrapped in heavy jackets, Maasai shukas, hats and scarves as temperatures dipped in the early morning hours. Others arrived on motorcycles or on foot, determined to be among the first to vote.
At polling stations including Kiganjo Primary School, Rurii Primary School and Huruma Primary School, election officials opened the stations on schedule at 6 a.m., allowing voting to commence smoothly as eager voters patiently waited their turn.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has expressed confidence in the exercise after successfully distributing election materials and deploying officials across the constituency ahead of polling day.
Voting is expected to continue until 5 p.m., with anyone in the queue by the official closing time allowed to cast their ballot.
The by-election was triggered by the death of former Ol Kalou MP David Njuguna Kiaraho and has evolved into one of the country’s most closely watched political contests.
It pits the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) against the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) in a race widely viewed as a barometer of political strength in the Mount Kenya region.
The campaign period was marked by intense political activity, allegations of voter bribery, violence and misuse of state resources, prompting repeated appeals from the IEBC, security agencies and political leaders for voters to maintain peace throughout the exercise.
With the winner set to become the new Member of Parliament for Ol Kalou, political observers are keenly watching turnout levels and the final outcome, which could have far-reaching implications for Kenya’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.