‘Mrima’ Explodes on UDA Face as DCP Clinches Historic First Parliamentary Seat in Ol Kalou
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) has secured its first parliamentary seat after Sammy Douglas Waweru Kamau won the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election in a landslide, handing President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) one of its biggest political setbacks in the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Official results announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) showed Waweru garnering 35,440 votes against UDA candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah’s 5,450 votes, giving the DCP candidate a commanding lead of nearly seven times the votes secured by his closest rival.
Nine candidates contested the seat, but the race quickly narrowed into a fierce duel between DCP and UDA, with the remaining seven candidates sharing only a small fraction of the votes cast.
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The outcome is expected to reshape political calculations in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region, where both the ruling coalition and the opposition have been seeking to consolidate support.
“The Returning Officer, Antony Njiraine, declared Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) duly elected Member of the National Assembly for Ol Kalou Constituency after garnering 35,440 votes in the by-election held on 16th July 2026. Samuel Muchina Nyagah (UDA) finished second with 5,450 votes,” the IEBC said while announcing the official results.
Reacting after receiving his certificate of election, Kamau thanked the people of Ol Kalou for the overwhelming mandate, promising to serve all residents without discrimination.
“I am deeply humbled and honoured by the overwhelming trust and confidence that the people of Ol Kalou have bestowed upon me. Receiving this certificate of election is not just a personal milestone—it is a solemn responsibility to serve every resident with integrity, humility, and dedication,” Kamau said.
“First and foremost, I thank God Almighty for His grace, protection, and faithfulness throughout this journey. My sincere gratitude goes to H.E. Rigathi Gachagua and Pastor Dorcas Rigathi for their prayers, encouragement and unwavering support. I also thank the entire DCP family, Senator John Methu, Wanjiku Muhia, our elected leaders, fellow aspirants, campaign team, volunteers, agents and every supporter who stood with us from the beginning to the end.”
The newly elected MP said the victory belonged to the people of Ol Kalou, adding that he would work with all residents regardless of how they voted.
“To the great people of Ol Kalou, thank you for believing in our vision and giving us such an overwhelming mandate. This victory belongs to all of us. The spirits of our forefathers are honored. To those who supported other candidates, I extend my respect and assure you that I will serve everyone equally, regardless of political affiliation. The campaigns are over; now the work of transforming Ol Kalou begins. May God bless you all, bless Ol Kalou Constituency, and bless Kenya. Asanteni sana! God bless Ol Kalou. God bless Nyandarua. God bless Kenya.”
The other candidates posted modest returns, highlighting the dominance of the two leading contenders. National Liberal Party’s Stephen Waithaka garnered 103 votes, People’s Renaissance Party candidate Timothy Kariuki secured 51 votes, Jubilee Party’s Wilson Mwaniki received 198 votes, PNU’s Edwin Kareri got 28 votes, Kenya Moja Movement’s Edward Mathenge managed 16 votes, Federal Party of Kenya’s Abdifatah Hussein Abdallah secured 19 votes, while People’s Democratic Party’s Rachel Wangui received 11 votes.
Fierce campaigns dominate Ol Kalou race
The by-election attracted the attention of senior political leaders from across the country, with both Kenya Kwanza and the opposition deploying top figures to campaign for their preferred candidates.
UDA mounted an aggressive campaign centred on government development projects, dispatching Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, governors and Members of Parliament to traverse the constituency while urging residents to support Muchina.
The campaign period also witnessed the distribution of various items, including mattresses, water tanks, gas cylinders and boats. Government leaders maintained the donations formed part of ongoing development programmes aimed at improving the livelihoods of local residents.
However, opposition leaders dismissed the distribution exercise, accusing the ruling coalition of attempting to influence voters through state-backed incentives instead of addressing the economic challenges facing ordinary Kenyans.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua spearheaded DCP’s campaign, leading a series of rallies across Ol Kalou alongside Nyandarua Senator John Methu, Woman Representative Wanjiku Muhia and other opposition leaders.
Their message largely focused on the rising cost of living, economic hardship, unemployment and what they described as the need for political change, a campaign that ultimately culminated in Waweru’s overwhelming victory.
Violence, tension and heavy security overshadow poll
Despite the decisive outcome, the campaign period was overshadowed by allegations of voter bribery, intimidation, destruction of campaign materials and isolated incidents of violence that raised concerns about the conduct of the by-election.
The IEBC Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee summoned several politicians accused of breaching campaign regulations, fined some of them and directed all parties to recommit themselves to peaceful campaigns.
Journalists covering campaign activities also came under attack from suspected goons, drawing condemnation from media stakeholders and human rights organisations.
On polling day, security was heightened, with more than 1,000 officers drawn from the General Service Unit, Anti-Stock Theft Unit, Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the regular police deployed across the constituency.
After voting closed, ballot boxes were escorted under tight security to the tallying centre at Ol Kalou Senior School as supporters from both camps anxiously awaited the final declaration.
Waweru’s lead widened as jubilant DCP supporters broke into songs and prayers outside the tallying centre, singing “Ametenda maajabu na siwezi kueleza” in celebration of what they termed a historic victory.
“We cannot normalise this kind of violence. There was serious voter suppression. How are people being allowed to walk around with AK47s and shoot everything? We have lost a life; we have never had UDA and DCP supporters here in Ol Kalou before. We must guarantee the safety of the voters,” said Nyandarua Senator John Methu.
The Ol Kalou victory delivers DCP its maiden parliamentary seat since the party’s formation while dealing UDA a significant political setback in a constituency that had attracted massive investment from the ruling coalition.
The result is expected to reshape political calculations in the Mt Kenya region and energise the opposition as it seeks to expand its influence across the country.
