Joe Nyutu urges IEBC to disqualify UDA’s candidate over voter-bribery claims
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, July 13, 2026Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to disqualify the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate in the Ol Kalou by-election, Samuel Muchina, accusing the ruling party and the government of engaging in widespread voter bribery through multi-billion-shilling development pledges.
Speaking during an interview on a local TV station on Monday, July 13, 2026, Nyutu said that the government’s intensive development activities in Ol Kalou were aimed at influencing voters ahead of the by-election rather than serving the public interest.
The senator referenced remarks by former President William Ruto’s senior economic advisor, Moses Kuria, who he has stated confirmed that the government had invested Ksh10 billion in the constituency, dismissing earlier claims that only Ksh1 billion had been spent.
“That is bribery. If they have indeed invested Ksh10 billion in Ol Kalou during the campaign period, then that cannot be described as normal government operations. It is open voter bribery,” Nyutu said.
Nyutu questioned why similar government interventions were not being undertaken simultaneously in other constituencies across the country.
“We have 290 constituencies in Kenya. Why are these projects only being implemented in Ol Kalou? Where else are government mattresses being distributed? Where else are boots, speedboats and other donations being given? Why is a railway line suddenly being revived during a by-election campaign?” he posed.
According to the senator, if the government’s actions were part of routine development, then similar allocations should have been made nationwide.
“Has the government allocated KSh290 billion for development projects across all constituencies? If not, then this is nothing more than an attempt to influence voters using public resources,” he argued.
Nyutu accuses IEBC of failure
The outspoken first-time senator has maintained that the electoral commission had sufficient grounds to disqualify the UDA candidate, saying the alleged use of state resources amounted to treating and bribing voters, both of which are prohibited under Kenya’s electoral laws.
“If IEBC were truly independent, as the ‘I’ in IEBC suggests, it should have disqualified the UDA candidate a long time ago on account of bribery and treating voters,” he said.
The Murang’a senator also criticised remarks which he says were made by Moses Kuria against the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru, saying political competitors deserved respect regardless of their backgrounds.
“He called our candidate a ‘chokora’. Even if someone were a chokora, they are still a human being born of a woman and deserve respect,” Nyutu stated.
Beyond the bribery allegations, Nyutu accused the electoral commission of failing to curb electoral violence witnessed in several recent by-elections.
IEBC accused of ignoring electoral violence
The senator said that the IEBC had remained silent during violent incidents reported in Matungu, Kasipul and Narok, only raising concerns over violence after the Ol Kalou contest became increasingly competitive.
“We have seen violence everywhere, yet IEBC appeared indifferent because they believed the government-backed candidate would win. Now that the candidate is losing in Ol Kalou, the commission suddenly remembers it can cancel a by-election because of violence,” he said.
Nyutu’s remarks come amid heightened political tensions in Ol Kalou, where both the Kenya Kwanza administration and the opposition have intensified campaigns ahead of the by-election.
The contest has been marked by accusations of voter bribery, misuse of public resources, intimidation and violence, prompting calls from opposition leaders and civil society groups for electoral agencies to ensure the poll remains free, fair and credible.