Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has stated that the recently concluded Ol Kalou by-election was not a contest between political parties, but a political showdown between President William Ruto and the Mt Kenya community.

Speaking on Sunday, July 19, 2026, during a church service at ACK St. Thomas Cathedral in Kerugoya, Kirinyaga Central Constituency, the former Deputy President said the outcome reflected what he described as the region’s rejection of government influence and inducements.

“I left the Ol Kalou campaign to Nyandarua Senator John Methu because I knew I was not the one in the contest. It was the community itself,” Gachagua said.

What Ol Kalou by-election meant

He argued that the by-election demonstrated the political direction of the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election, saying the momentum would continue in the next polls.

Gachagua further alleged that the government spent more than Ksh14 billion campaigning for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate, but still failed to win the seat.

“In the mountain, I only had 18 elected leaders to defend the mountain, but with the Ol Kalou MP-elect, I now have 19 elected leaders to defend Mt Kenya,” he said.

“UDA got only 5,000 votes with Ksh14 billion. That means they were buying one vote at Ksh3 million,” he claimed.

He also alleged that government officials who participated in the campaign had been ordered to refund the money spent following the party’s defeat.

“Those government officials who were campaigning for Ol Kalou have been told to refund the money because they lost in the by-election,” he said.

The DCP leader also claimed that several leaders allied to President Ruto were seeking to defect to his political camp, including a Principal Secretary from Nyeri County and seven Members of Parliament.

“There is a PS from Nyeri who called me saying he wants to join me so that he can vie for Governor. There are seven MPs from Ruto’s side who called saying they want to join me, but I told them to come during the day and not at night so that they can be photographed and be seen by the President,” he said.

Security in the region

On security, Gachagua accused security agencies of using excessive force during the Ol Kalou by-election, alleging that two people were killed and women sexually assaulted. He criticised Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen’s call for victims to report the incidents to police.

“Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen is telling us to report those who killed two people in Ol Kalou and raped women to the police station. How can you report to the same police officers who attacked you?” he posed.

Gachagua also urged foreign tourists to postpone travel to Kenya until after the 2027 General Election, claiming that insecurity had worsened due to what he described as the emergence of government-sponsored goons.

“We are asking tourists to stay away until after the elections next year so that they can be safe,” he said.