Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) has been elected the new Member of Parliament for Ol Kalou after winning the constituency by-election with a commanding lead over his competitors.
The result marks a major political moment in the Mt Kenya region and is expected to influence political discussions as parties begin looking ahead to the 2027 General Election.
The official results were announced by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Returning Officer Antony Njiraine following the July 16, 2026 vote. Kamau secured 35,440 votes, comfortably defeating United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah, who received 5,450 votes.
The wide margin of victory attracted national attention, especially because the by-election had developed into a closely watched contest between the opposition-backed DCP and President William Ruto’s UDA.
Political leaders from both sides of the divide spent weeks campaigning in the constituency, turning Ol Kalou into one of the most active political battlegrounds in the country.
Other candidates finished far behind the two front-runners. Jubilee Party candidate Wilson Mwaniki Kigwa received 198 votes, while Stephen Wanyoike Waithaka of the National Liberal Party garnered 103 votes. Progressive Movement candidate Timothy Kamau Kariuki got 51 votes. Edwin Kariiri Muchiri of PNU secured 28 votes, Abdifatah Hussein Abdullahi of FPK received 19 votes, Edward Mathenge Mwaniki of KMM got 16 votes, and Rachael Wangui Njoroge of PDP finished with 11 votes.
According to the IEBC, Ol Kalou Constituency had 73,480 registered voters. A total of 41,656 ballots were cast, resulting in a voter turnout of 57 percent.
The commission reported that voting generally proceeded smoothly across most polling stations, with turnout steadily increasing throughout the day.
However, the election was not without challenges. Isolated incidents of violence were reported in parts of Ol Kalou town, where groups clashed and disrupted voting activities. Several journalists covering the election were also reportedly attacked, leading to calls from media organizations, civil society groups and political leaders for investigations and action against those responsible.
Security agencies maintained a strong presence throughout the exercise. After polling stations closed, ballot boxes were transported under police escort to the tallying centre at Ol Kalou Senior School.
Many residents gathered along roads to witness the movement of election materials as counting and verification got underway.
Following the announcement of results, the IEBC thanked voters, candidates, political parties, election officials, security agencies, observers, the media and other stakeholders for their role in the electoral process.
Kamau’s victory gives DCP an important parliamentary seat and strengthens the party’s presence in national politics. The outcome is also likely to shape political strategies in the Mt Kenya region, where parties are already beginning to position themselves for the next general election.
The result from Ol Kalou will now be closely studied by both the government and the opposition as they assess changing political trends and voter sentiment in one of Kenya’s most influential regions.
