Gathoni Wamuchomba urges Ol Kalou voters to prioritise development in MP’s elections
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, July 9, 2026Githunguri Member of Parliament (MP) Gathoni Wamuchomba has urged residents of Ol Kalou to vote based on development priorities rather than emotions as they prepare to elect their next Member of Parliament.
In a statement on his X handle on Thursday, July 9, 2026, addressed to the people of Ol Kalou, the Githunguri MP has said she sees striking similarities between the constituency and her home area, noting that several villages in Ol Kalou bear names commonly associated with Githunguri.
“It’s like you are an extension of Githunguri. Your villages are bearing our names, such as Githunguri, Gichungo, Gakoe, Nginduri and Githima,” Wamuchomba said.
She added that the two regions also face similar development challenges, including poor roads, inadequate water supply and limited electricity access.
According to the legislator, residents of Ol Kalou are increasingly embracing what she described as “politics of development” instead of being swayed by emotional appeals during campaigns.
“No wonder you are good people. Your challenges of roads, water and electricity are similar. I’m glad you are now choosing politics of development over emotional whipping,” she stated.
The outspoken lawmaker has further said that development should unite communities, noting that progress benefits everyone regardless of political affiliation.
“We are in it to benefit together,” she said.
As campaigns intensify ahead of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, the MP encouraged voters to focus on the issues that matter most to them when choosing their next representative.
“As you choose your next MP, I believe you have the very priority issues that will guide you. May you be favoured,” Wamuchomba concluded.
Her remarks come as candidates continue to court voters with promises to improve infrastructure, expand access to clean water, enhance electricity connectivity and address other pressing local development needs in the constituency, with 6 days to the mini-polls.
In what has emerged as a contest between the government and the opposition, with two opposing candidates of UDA and DCP taking the centre stage in the campaigns, the government side has recently launched multi-billion-shilling projects in the constituency.
The timing and pace of this accelerated development are highly pointed due to its overlap with the high-stakes parliamentary by-election.
Opposition’s position on Ol Kalou by-election
Led by former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, the opposition has said that residents of Ol Kalou are being lured into surrendering their national identity cards in exchange for government-issued items ahead of the July 16, 2026, by-election, urging voters to reject the alleged scheme and safeguard their constitutional right to vote.
In a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, Gachagua said that reports from the constituency indicated that some residents were being asked to hand over their identity cards in return for free gas cylinders and government-branded mattresses.
He argued that the exercise was aimed at disenfranchising voters before they cast their ballots in the upcoming by-election.
“Reports reaching me from Ol Kalou are that residents are being asked to surrender their identity cards in exchange for a free gas cylinder and a GoK-branded mattress. This is a scheme to deny you the opportunity and right to vote in the by-elections of July 16, 2026,” Gachagua said.