Suba South Member of Parliament (MP) Caroli Omondi, who is the spokesperson of the Linda Mwananchi faction, has accused the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of laying the groundwork to postpone the upcoming Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, claiming that recent actions and statements by the electoral agency are aimed at frustrating the poll.

In a statement shared on his X account on Saturday, July 11, 2026, Omondi said the opposition coalition had resolved to suspend its planned political tour of Ol Kalou, arguing that the move was intended to avert what he described as a calculated plan to trigger violence and create grounds for postponing the by-election.

“We have noted with deep concern the statements and actions of the IEBC which are clearly aimed at setting the stage for the postponement of the Ol Kalou Parliamentary by-election,” Omondi said.

Plans to trigger violence

Omondi further accused the government of planning violent attacks against the Linda Mwananchi team during its campaign engagements in Ol Kalou, claiming groups had been mobilised from neighbouring counties to disrupt the opposition’s activities.

He said the coalition had received information that attacks targeting its convoy would be used to provoke confrontations before citing insecurity as justification for postponing the poll.

“Police squads without uniform and goons have been mobilised from parts of Kiambu, Murang’a and Nakuru to attack the Linda Mwananchi convoy. The strategy is to use acts of self-defence as an excuse to declare a state of siege and postpone the by-election,” he stated.

Omondi announced that instead of touring Ol Kalou,the coalition would hold its engagements in nearby Nyahururu, saying the decision was meant to deny those behind the reported plan an opportunity to disrupt the electoral process.

Calls on voters to reject bribery

The Linda Mwananchi official urged residents of Ol Kalou to participate in the election and resist attempts to influence their choice through inducements.

Quoting freedom fighter Dedan Kimathi, Omondi appealed to voters to protect what he termed their democratic sovereignty.

“The extensive bribery of voters by a discredited government is not new to Ol Kalou. We trust the people of Ol Kalou to uphold and not sell their sovereignty,” he said.

Claims mirror Gachagua’s remarks

Omondi’s statement comes a day after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also accused the IEBC of attempting to justify postponing the July 16, 2026 by-election.

Speaking at the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) headquarters on Friday, July 10, 2026, Gachagua maintained that Ol Kalou had remained peaceful and argued that any incidents of violence reported during campaigns were state-sponsored.

“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 has previously warned that it could postpone the by-election if widespread electoral offences or insecurity threaten the integrity of the electoral process. The Ol Kalou contest has attracted intense political competition between the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and opposition-backed candidates ahead of polling day on July 16, 2026.