Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that a woman in Ol Kalou received a total of Ksh98,000 during the campaign period ahead of the constituency’s parliamentary by-election.

Gachagua said the woman told him she collected the money during campaigns as he questioned the amount of resources he claimed were deployed by President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to win support in Ol Kalou.

He made the remarks on Sunday, July 19, 2026, during a church service at the St. Thomas Cathedral, Kerugoya, Kenya in the Kirinyaga County, Kenya.

“Kuna mama moja nimekuwa hapo juzi, ameniambia yeye kwa hiyo campaign, alipata 98,000,” Gachagua said.

He explained that the woman claimed she separated the money into different portions, referring to some as “commercial” and “Barclays”, before keeping quiet.

“Anasema, anachukua, anaweka hapa. Hapa anaingiza hapa mama. Anasema hii ni commercial na hii ni Barclays. Na anayamaza,” he said.

Gachagua questions UDA campaign spending

The DCP leader used the claim to argue that the Ol Kalou by-election involved heavy spending by UDA, saying the amount of money used did not translate into votes.

The by-election, held on Thursday, July 16, 2026, ended with Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Kamau Ngotho winning by a wide margin.

According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Kamau secured 35,440 votes, while UDA candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah received 5,450 votes.

The contest attracted national attention as it was seen as a political battle between Gachagua’s DCP and President Ruto’s UDA ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Gachagua claimed that government officials, including nine Cabinet Secretaries, 16 Principal Secretaries, 35 parastatal chiefs and 91 MPs, visited Ol Kalou during the campaign period.

“Haijawahi kuonekana mambo kama hiyo imeonekana hapo Ol Kalou,” he said.

He claimed some people attending campaign meetings were from outside the constituency and moved between different events.

“Watu kutoka nje walikuwa wengi kuliko wa Ol Kalou. Kazi yao ni kugawanya watu nne nne,” he said.

The former deputy president also claimed some boda boda operators attended several meetings in a day and received small payments at each event.

“Wakifika mahali wanageuka. Wanapiga line kila mtu elfu mbili. Wanatoka, wanaenda the next meeting,” he said.

Development projects and election outcome

Gachagua also questioned the use of development projects during the campaign period. He listed projects and items that he claimed were delivered to residents, including a railway service, transformers, water projects, gas cylinders, boats, mattresses, shoes, watches and pens.

He claimed the government spent about Ksh14.5 billion on development projects in Ol Kalou and another Ksh1.1 billion in cash campaigns.

“Tumepiga hesabu kwa ile 15 billion, ametapata kura elfu tano,” he said.

Gachagua said the cost of securing each vote was extremely high, arguing that UDA’s spending did not convince residents to support its candidate.

“Tumepiga hesabu kila kura moja imecost William Ruto 3 million pale wa Kalau,” he said.

The Ol Kalou by-election was held after the death of former MP David Kiaraho. The race became a major political test for both UDA and DCP, with campaigns dominated by accusations of voter mobilisation tactics, cash handouts and the influence of national leaders.