MURANG’A, Kenya — Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has said the outcome of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election has weakened Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s political standing in the Mt Kenya region, arguing that political leaders must first demonstrate support in their home regions before seeking broader national influence.
Speaking after the by-election, Kang’ata said the Mt Kenya region has historically voted as a bloc because of shared history, language, and regional interests.
“The Ol Kalou by-election has definitely shaken Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s position in Mt Kenya. The way politics is usually framed, you must dance a yard before you dance abroad. One must illustrate local backing before coming to the negotiation table and seeking discussion with the rest,” Kang’ata said.
He added:
“I have no doubt that the Mt Kenya region drifts together for reasons including historical, linguistic and regional.”
Voters Becoming More Independent
Kang’ata said the by-election also signalled a shift in Kenyan politics, with voters increasingly making independent decisions rather than following political influence or financial inducements.
He urged leaders to embrace democratic competition, noting that political power is earned through persuasion and can just as easily be lost at the ballot box.
The governor also cautioned politicians against using violence to retain political support, saying such tactics only alienate citizens and erode public confidence.
DCP’s Landslide Victory
Kang’ata’s remarks follow the Ol Kalou by-election, in which Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru defeated United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah by a wide margin.
According to the official results, Waweru garnered 35,440 votes, while Nyagah received 5,450 votes, with the remaining candidates trailing significantly. The election recorded a voter turnout of 57 per cent.
The victory handed DCP its first seat in the National Assembly and strengthened former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s claim of growing political influence in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Nyagah conceded defeat after the results were announced and congratulated Waweru, pledging to work with him for the development of the constituency.
Gachagua’s Influence
Kang’ata argued that the by-election result reflected Gachagua’s continued influence in the region and credited the DCP leader’s political mobilisation efforts for the victory.
“It is true that Wamunyoro is the voice of that region in terms of his political impact, and therefore we all knew DCP would win. They deserved it because of the effort they have put in,” he said.