Former Deputy President and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) Rigathi Gachagua has accused the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of attempting to justify the postponement of the Ol Kalou by-election, insisting that residents should be allowed to exercise their democratic right without interference.

Speaking in a press release at the DCP headquarters in Nairobi on Friday, July 10, 2026, Gachagua has observed that the constituency has remained largely peaceful and argued that there was no legitimate basis for delaying the vote. He instead blamed the government for any incidents of violence reported during the campaign period.

“Ol Kalou has been peaceful. There is no reason to postpone the elections. Whatever violence has been witnessed has been perpetrated by the state,” Gachagua said.

“The IEBC is clearly biased,” he added.

The former Deputy President also thanked the media for documenting what he described as widespread voter bribery during the campaigns, saying journalists had consistently highlighted the issue even before concerns were raised by the electoral commission.

Gachagua takes on IEBC

According to Gachagua, the IEBC chairperson’s remarks that the by-election could be cancelled over reported bribery were misplaced, arguing that the commission should instead act against those involved in electoral malpractice rather than consider postponing the poll.

He further noted that some IEBC commissioners were working in concert with the state to influence the outcome of the by-election in favour of the ruling party’s candidate, claims for which he did not provide evidence.

“IEBC commissioners are dining with the state to procure and deliver unfair, predetermined by-election results in favour of the ruling party candidate. Please allow the people to decide,” he said.

Gachagua maintained that any violence cited as grounds for postponing the election was state-sponsored and therefore could not be used to deny voters an opportunity to elect their representative.

His remarks come amid heightened political tensions in Ol Kalou, where allegations of voter bribery have dominated the campaign period days to the polls.The IEBC has previously warned that it could take action, including postponing the by-election, if widespread electoral offences or insecurity compromise the integrity of the exercise.

The by-election has attracted intense competition between the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and opposition-backed candidates, with both sides trading accusations over campaign conduct in the run-up to polling day on July 16.