Linda Mwananchi accuses govt of using state resources to influence Ol Kalou by-election
By Emmanuel Rono, July 9, 2026Linda Mwananchi has accused President William Ruto’s administration of using state resources to influence voters ahead of the upcoming Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election in Nyandarua County.
In a statement issued on Thursday, July 9, 2026 the opposition movement claimed that the government has orchestrated an influx of cash and public-funded projects into the constituency in a bid to sway voters in favour of its preferred candidate.
The coalition claimed the move amounted to voter bribery and an abuse of state resources during the campaign period.
“As if to add salt to injury, the Ruto regime is displaying a bizarre abuse of power in Ol Kalou Constituency ahead of the by-election by using state resources to bribe voters. We have seen an obscene inflow of cash and state goodies into the constituency, intended to sway the will of the people,” the statement read.
Kipipiri parliamentary by-election,
Linda Mwananchi drew parallels with the 1995 Kipipiri parliamentary by-election, claiming the then KANU government deployed development projects and other incentives in an attempt to influence voters.
The movement recalled that despite the state-backed campaign, Democratic Party candidate Mwangi Githiomi defeated KANU’s Joe Maina, after which the government withdrew some of the development equipment it had deployed in the constituency.
“The UDA regime’s lack of creativity has forced it to relive the old KANU playbook from the archives, but it shall end the same way. The people of Ol Kalou, just like Kipipiri of 1995, will not be swayed by goodies bought from their own taxes,” the coalition said.
The opposition also criticised the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), accusing it of remaining silent despite the alleged election law violations.
“Meanwhile, the IEBC watches these violations of the election law silently, comfortable to be seen as an appendage of the executive and doing nothing to assure anxious Kenyans,” the statement added.