Govt flags off 20K LPG cylinders in Ol Kalou days after Gachagua’s cash splash claims
By Mustafa Juma, July 6, 2026The national government has launched the distribution of 20,000 subsidised Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders to households in Ol Kalou Constituency, a move that comes just days before the crucial parliamentary by-election and amid an escalating political battle over development spending in the area.
The programme was flagged off by former President William Ruto’s Senior Economic Advisor Moses Kuria, accompanied by Petroleum Principal Secretary Kello Harsama, Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira, and Blue Economy Principal Secretary Betsy Muthoni.
In a statement shared via his official X account on Monday, July 6, 2026, after the launch, Kuria said the initiative is aimed at improving the quality of life for thousands of families that have traditionally relied on firewood and charcoal for cooking.
“For many years, families across Ol Kalou have relied on firewood and charcoal to prepare their meals. For many mothers, cooking has meant spending hours in smoke-filled kitchens, with watery eyes, persistent coughing, and the health risks that come with breathing in smoke every day. For many households, there simply wasn’t an affordable alternative,” Kuria stated.
He said the subsidised LPG programme would provide a cleaner and safer source of energy while reducing pressure on forests.
“This programme is about improving everyday life because it gives families a cleaner, safer, and healthier way to cook, reduces harmful smoke in our homes, eases pressure on our forests and saves families the time and effort spent searching for firewood or buying charcoal,” he stated.
Links programme to UDA candidate
Kuria also used the occasion to campaign for UDA parliamentary candidate Samuel Muchina, arguing that electing him would pave the way for additional government-backed development projects.
“Every new programme will attract different opinions, but what matters most is the impact it has on the lives of our people. When families enjoy healthier homes, spend less time looking for firewood and charcoal and have access to cleaner cooking, the benefits are real and lasting.”
He added:
“This historic initiative is just a glimpse of what is possible when we choose progressive leadership. Giving Samuel Muchina a chance to be the next Ol Kalou Member of Parliament is opening a direct leeway to more transformative development projects like this one.”
Kuria described the clean cooking initiative as part of a broader vision for the constituency.
“This is the blueprint for a modernized Ol Kalou and by backing Muchina, we are choosing an era of continuous practical solutions that directly uplift the standard of living for every resident,” he wrote on X.
Gachagua’s cash splash claims
The launch comes amid heightened political activity ahead of the July 16 Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, which has become one of the country’s most closely watched electoral contests.
Last week, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua claimed President William Ruto’s administration had pumped Ksh1 billion into Ol Kalou in a bid to influence the outcome of the by-election.
Speaking at his Wamunyoro residence in Nyeri while hosting leaders from Githunguri Constituency, Gachagua claimed that money was flowing so freely in Ol Kalou that traders were struggling to give customers change.
He claimed residents were taking advantage of the spending but would ultimately vote against the ruling party.
Kuria has strongly denied the claims.
Kuria links it to development worth over Ksh10 billion
Responding to Gachagua’s claims, Kuria argued that the former Deputy President had underestimated the scale of government investment in Ol Kalou.
“You say we are spending Ksh1 billion in Ol Kalou. You are wrong. It’s actually over Ksh10 billion,” Kuria said in an earlier statement.
He published a list of ongoing and planned government projects in the constituency, including the tarmacking of the Ithagani–Nyaituga–Ngorika–Kanyiriri road, rehabilitation of more than 150 kilometres of roads, construction of Nyandarua University, issuance of thousands of title deeds, expansion of electricity connections, affordable housing, water projects, dairy sector revitalisation, development of Lake Ol Bolossat, market upgrades and the subsidised LPG programme.
Kuria maintained that the investments are part of the Kenya Kwanza administration’s development agenda and not campaign handouts.
High-stakes by-election
The Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election was necessitated by the death of area MP David Njuguna Kiaraho in February 2026.
The contest has evolved into a political showdown between President Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and opposition forces led by Gachagua, with both sides viewing the poll as an important test of political influence in the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Government leaders have intensified visits to the constituency to showcase ongoing projects, while opposition leaders have accused the administration of using state resources to influence voters.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has scheduled the by-election for July 16, with campaigns expected to intensify in the final days before voters head to the ballot.