Ol Kalou Verdict: Millie Odhiambo Breaks Silence as Gachagua’s Victory Sparks Fresh 2027 Debate

Suba North Member of Parliament Millie Odhiambo has weighed in on the political significance of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, arguing that the outcome carries major implications for both President William Ruto’s broad-based administration and the opposition as the race towards the 2027 General Election begins to take shape.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) legislator described the by-election as more than just a local political contest, saying it became a high-stakes battle between the broad-based government and the opposition, with each side keen to prove its strength in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region.

Her remarks come days after the Ol Kalou by-election, which attracted national attention as political heavyweights from both the government and opposition pitched camp in Nyandarua County, turning what would ordinarily have been a local contest into an early test of political influence before the next General Election.

“Commenting on this is wading on murdy waters but sometimes one must get muddy.”

The by-election was won by the opposition-backed candidate after an intense campaign that saw senior leaders criss-cross the constituency seeking votes. The election was conducted peacefully despite heightened political rivalry, with a strong voter turnout as residents cast their ballots in a contest widely viewed as a key political litmus test ahead of the 2027 elections.

The outcome immediately sparked debate across the political divide, with allies of President Ruto and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua offering contrasting interpretations of what the result means for the country’s political future.

Millie Odhiambo explains what the result means for the opposition

According to Odhiambo, the Ol Kalou race was never an ordinary by-election but rather a high-stakes political showdown between the broad-based government and the opposition.

“Despite comments by various leaders to the contrary, Olkalau was a do or die for Broadbased on one side, and Opposition, [ not just Riggy G.] on the other.”

She argued that, from the opposition’s perspective, Gachagua achieved several political objectives through the victory.

“Hon. Rigathi Gachagua wanted to show that going into 2027; [i] Central Kenya is completely gone- @ 90%. He proved it decisively.and unequivocally.”

The MP further suggested that the former Deputy President had also demonstrated his growing political influence within the Mt Kenya region.

“[ii] If you do not sing his tune in Mt Kenya, starting that day, you start off at a 10% chance of winning. Some leaders just might evade this. But it’s gonna be hard.”

Odhiambo went on to argue that the result strengthens Gachagua’s claim to leadership within the opposition coalition.

“[Iii] The win according to him, gives him the mandate to steer the entire opposition. You do not like it, you lump it! This here, though, is the President’s through pass that he can use to navigate a goal. I will not explain how. Like the President says- ‘tiii gi wiyi’ or use your brains.”

Lessons for President Ruto’s broad-based government

Odhiambo also analysed what she believes the outcome means for President Ruto’s broad-based administration, saying the loss exposed weaknesses that require urgent attention before the 2027 General Election.

She argued that one of the key objectives for the government had been to test its election management approach in a competitive political environment.

“For the Broadbased, a win was majorly about two things: [1] Test run on the Electoral Management Strategy and System for 2027. The result showed that the strategy and system is faulty and can not be relied on.”

The lawmaker said the government should treat the defeat as an opportunity to rethink its political strategy instead of ignoring the warning signs.

“Life served us Broadbasers lemon in Olkalau, we must use it to make flour gravy with lemon taste kwa mbali sana. In other words, overhaul and reconstruct using the faulty system as a lesson of what not to do and only retaining a bit of it, if at all, kwa mbali.”

According to her, another objective had been to demonstrate that President Ruto still enjoys substantial backing in the Mt Kenya region despite the fallout with his former deputy.

“[2] It was about showing that BB has a sizeable population that supports the President in Central. It showed otherwise.”

Odhiambo concluded her assessment by urging President Ruto to pay closer attention to Gachagua’s political moves, warning that the former Deputy President continues to benefit from opportunities handed to him by his former boss.

“My final comments. President Ruto should keenly observe his former Deputy. He has a tendency of giving many free passes.”

She ended the post with a cryptic message suggesting that while she remains politically undecided, her position could soon change.

“Bado niko kwa fence but one foot almost landing thaaat side. No. It’s not that side you are saying.”

The Ol Kalou by-election has intensified political debate over the future of the Mt Kenya region, with leaders from both camps treating the outcome as an early measure of their influence ahead of the 2027 General Election. While it involved the election of a single Member of Parliament, the contest has become one of the most discussed political events in recent weeks, with its implications expected to shape campaign strategies and alliances in the months ahead.