The Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election in Kenya, slated for July 16, 2026, has once again proved to be a hot contest between the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).

Even though the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of Kenya cleared nine candidates to contest the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, the race has evolved into a supremacy battle pitting President William Ruto against his former Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua.

The political power play between the rival camps has sparked acts of violence in the constituency, prompting IEBC Chairman Erastus Edung Ethekon to threaten to cancel the by-election. Some of the concerns raised by the Kenyan electoral commission include gun violence, voter bribery, and overnight campaigns.

Speaking at the launch of the 2022 Pre-election Dispute Resolution Report, the IEBC Chairman expressed concern over what he described as gross violations of the electoral code of conduct. Issuing a warning against the violence and destruction that left one person dead, Ethekon said investigations are underway to identify those responsible so that appropriate action can be taken.

“Should the situation remain unfavorable to carry out an election, we will have no option but to either postpone or cancel the by-election,” the IEBC Chairman warned.

The high-stakes campaign in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election has renewed the bitter political rivalry between UDA and DCP, with each side seeking to prove who commands the support of the populous Mt. Kenya voting bloc.

The Ol Kalou parliamentary seat, located in Nyandarua County, Kenya, fell vacant following the death of area MP David Njuguna Kiaraho on March 29, 2026. The contest has attracted nine candidates, including Kamau Ngotho (DCP), Muchina Nyaga (UDA), Timothy Kamau (People’s Renaissance Movement), Edwin Muchiri (PNU), Stephen Wanyoike (National Liberal Party), Edward Mwaniki (Kenya Moja Movement), Abdifatah Hussein (Federal Party of Kenya), and Rachael Njoroge.

As the campaign period in Ol Kalou Constituency draws to a close, the battle for political dominance in Kenya’s Mt. Kenya region is expected to play out at the ballot, with both UDA and DCP determined to claim bragging rights over one of the country’s most influential voting blocs.