Voting Underway in Ol Kalou By-Election
Voting is underway in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, with polling stations across the Nyandarua County constituency opening on Thursday, July 16, 2026, morning as residents turn out to elect their next Member of Parliament.
Wrapped in Maasai shukas, heavy jackets, warm hats and leggings, voters in Ol Kalou turned out early, braving the constituency's chilly morning to cast their ballots in the parliamentary by-election.
The exercise got off to a smooth start at Rurii Primary School, where officials reported no hitches, while steady queues formed early at Huruma Primary School and other centres across the constituency.
UDA candidate Samuel Muchina Nyaga is expected to cast his ballot at Huruma Primary School in Kaimbaga Ward at 7am, while DCP candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru votes at AC Primary School, Ol Kalou, at around 9am.
Jubilee Party candidate Wilson Kigwa is set to vote at Kandutura Primary School at 10am, with People's Renaissance Movement candidate Timothy Kariuki also casting his ballot at 10am at Kieni Secondary School.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has set up 144 polling stations for the poll, with about 73,480 registered voters eligible to take part.
As voting began, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) encouraged residents to participate in the electoral process.
"To all voters in the Ol Kalou by-election: your participation matters. We encourage you to turn out in large numbers and peacefully exercise your democratic right and vote in your preferred candidate," the commission said.
Polling stations will remain open until 5.00 pm. The IEBC said any time lost during polling will be recovered at closing, while voters who are in the queue by 5.00 pm will still be allowed to vote.
The by-election was triggered by the death of longtime Ol Kalou MP David Njuguna Kiaraho, who died on March 29 after more than a decade representing the constituency. Kiaraho was first elected in 2013 and successfully defended the seat in the 2017 and 2022 General Elections.
The contest has drawn national attention and is widely viewed as a litmus test of political influence in the Mt. Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Nine candidates cleared by the IEBC are on the ballot, but the contest has crystallised into a closely watched showdown between DCP's Waweru, the United Democratic Alliance's Samuel Muchina Nyagah and Jubilee Party's Wilson Kigwa.
Beyond the local stakes of roads, farming and healthcare, the vote is being framed nationally as a proxy battle between President William Ruto and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for influence over the Mt Kenya voting bloc ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The campaign period, which closed on Monday, was marked by aggressive voter mobilisation and allegations of voter bribery and misuse of state resources.