OL KALOU, Nyandarua- Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala has urged Ol Kalou voters to remain vigilant after casting their ballots, saying they have a right to stay outside polling stations and monitor the electoral process.
Speaking after voting got underway in the high-stakes parliamentary by-election on Thursday, Malala encouraged residents not to be intimidated and to safeguard what he described as the people’s democratic will.
“This is your day. When you cast your vote, you have the right to go outside the polling station and wait. There is a narrative that you should cast your vote and go home. We cannot trust this government or the police. We are going to guard our votes,” Malala said.
The DCP deputy leader also addressed claims that police had attempted to intimidate voters ahead of the election, saying the move had failed to discourage residents from participating in the poll.
“The motive was to intimidate our voters and insinuate a situation where there is a lot of tension in the area. But I thank the people of Ol Kalou for snobbing that signal,” he said.
Despite the concerns raised, Malala said the voting exercise had remained peaceful and praised residents for turning out in large numbers to elect their next Member of Parliament.
“We are certain that today will be a good day. It has been peaceful, and the people of Ol Kalou have turned out in large numbers to exercise their democratic right,” he added.
The Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election has attracted national attention, with both the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the opposition-backed DCP treating the contest as a key political test ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Voting began at 6 a.m. across the constituency under the supervision of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), with polling stations reporting steady voter turnout throughout the morning. Security personnel remain deployed across the constituency to maintain law and order as the exercise continues until 5 p.m.