Before the late Olkalou MP David Njuguna Kiaraho is laid to rest, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has declared the seat vacant.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is preparing the area for by-election discussions, initiating the mini-polls. The opposition has begun challenging their rivals, promising a tough contest ahead.
Democratic Action Party (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa was the first to address the upcoming Olkalou by-election, highlighting a rematch between the United Opposition and Kenya Kwanza. This follows their losses in the Mbeere North and Malava constituencies in 2025 and 2026.
Wamalwa emphasized that the United Opposition will unite for the Olkalou mini-poll. He noted that, similar to the strategies employed in Mbeere North and Malava, parties within the coalition will support a single candidate, allowing the most dominant party in the area to field their candidate.
He recalled that in Mbeere North, the Rigathi Gachagua-led DCP party supported Justin Muturi’s DP candidate, Newton Karish, while in Malava, Gachagua withdrew his candidate to back Wamalwa’s choice. Wamalwa stated, “For the Olkalou by-election, we are working together. We remember our previous three by-elections, where DCP stood down for DAP-K in Malava.”
Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, also the Azimio la Umoja secretary-general, expressed confidence in the United Opposition’s potential victory. He dismissed the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) win in 2025, citing electoral irregularities that favored their candidates, which he insists will not occur in Olkalou. “We encountered issues at three polling stations in Mbeere North and serious flaws in Malava. We look forward to facing them in Olkalou,” Omondi stated.
The Olkalou by-election will serve as a critical test for Gachagua to demonstrate his influence in the Mount Kenya region and establish the DCP party’s dominance. Following the United Opposition’s loss in Mbeere North, he defended his position, asserting that his party did not contest in that area despite his strong campaign presence. This upcoming election is vital for him to prove his status as a key figure in the region, suggesting that political dynamics may shift for President William Ruto.
The late Olkalou MP will be interred in Tigoni, Limuru constituency, a site chosen in accordance with his final wishes. His family noted that he cherished Tigoni and often sought refuge there after busy days in his constituency.
