Voting is underway in Ol Kalou Constituency as residents head to the polls to elect a new Member of Parliament in a closely watched by-election.
Polling stations opened at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 16, with hundreds of voters turning up early to cast their ballots despite the cold morning weather.
Long queues were witnessed at several polling centres as residents patiently waited to exercise their democratic right.
Ol Kalou By-Election. Photo: Courtesy.
Young people and elderly voters were among the first to arrive at polling stations, while elderly persons, people with disabilities and other vulnerable voters received assistance and were given priority to vote.
The exercise began smoothly at Huruma Primary School Polling Station, where election officials processed voters in an orderly manner as security officers maintained a visible presence. Similar scenes were witnessed at Silanga Polling Station, A.C. Primary School and Rurii Polytechnic, where voting proceeded without major incidents.
The by-election has attracted nine candidates seeking to succeed the late MP David Njuguna Kiaraho.
They include Samuel Muchina Nyagah (UDA), Sammy Kamau Ngotho (DCP), Edwin Muchiri (PNU), Stephen Wanyoike (National Liberal Party), Wilson Mwaniki Kigwa (Jubilee),Timothy Kamau Kariuki (People’s Revolutionary Movement – PRM), Edward Mwaniki (Kenya Moja Movement), Abdifatah Hussein Abdullahi (Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya – FPK) and Rachael Wangui Njoroge (Party of Democratic Progress – PDP).
The contest is largely expected to be between UDA’s Samuel Muchina Nyagah and DCP’s Sammy Kamau Ngotho, whose campaigns have dominated the race in the weeks leading up to the vote.
Muchina is expected to cast his ballot at Huruma Primary School, while Ngotho is scheduled to vote at A.C. Primary School.
Security has been heightened across the constituency following weeks of intense political campaigns, with police officers deployed to polling stations to ensure the election remains peaceful and orderly.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has urged voters to adhere to election regulations, including maintaining order at polling stations and refraining from taking photographs of marked ballot papers, an offence under the Election Offences Act.
The Ol Kalou parliamentary seat became vacant after the death of David Njuguna Kiaraho on March 29, 2026, necessitating the by-election.
The winner will serve the remainder of Kiaraho’s term as the constituency awaits the next General Election in 2027.
