The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) deputy party leader, Cleophas Malala, has praised what he described as a strong voter turnout during the ongoing party’s primaries in Ol Kalou Constituency.

Speaking at Huruma Primary School on Saturday, May 9, 2026, when he toured some of the polling stations in the constituency, the former Kakamega Senator claimed that residents had turned out in large numbers to participate in the exercise.

Malala said the turnout demonstrated strong local political engagement as he praised claims that residents had been influenced by former Deputy President and DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua to stay at home during the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party’s nomination exercise on Friday, May 8, 2026.

High voter turnout

He further suggested that even vulnerable groups, including elderly residents and expectant mothers, participated in the process, describing it as a sign of enthusiasm for internal party democracy.

“Ningependa kuwashukuru wakaazi wa Ol Kalou kwamba mlimsikiza kiongozi wenu Rigathi Gachagua jana. Gachagua alikuwa amewapea mwelekeo kwamba msijitokeze kwenda kupiga kura kwa ile nomination ya UDA. Ningependa kuwashukuru nmejitokeza kwa wingi. Jana hamkuenda kwa nominations za UDA,” Malala said.

“Leo mmejitokeza kwa wingi kabisa. Mimi naona hata wamama ambao ni wajawazito wamejitokeza; shosho wetu wamejitokeza, na hata wale ambao wamekunywa kitu kidogo bado wamejitokeza.”

According to Malala, voters were determined to make their voices heard through a direct ballot system at polling stations.

Attack on UDA nomination system

In his remarks, Malala also criticised the nomination system used by the UDA party, claiming that it lacked transparency compared to DCP’s voting process.

He claimed that UDA’s digital voting approach raised concerns among supporters and questioned its credibility, contrasting it with what he described as a more open paper ballot system used in DCP primaries.

Malala further accused the UDA of attempting to influence voter behaviour ahead of the nominations, while insisting that DCP processes remained independent and transparent.

According to him, the UDA party feared using the paper ballot system and opted for digital, due to the fewer ballots that would have been cast as a result of the low turnout that was anticipated.

“Chama cha UDA jana kilitumia digital platform, kwamba mtu anakuja alafu anapiga kura kwa iPad. Sasa ukipiga kura, inapeperushwa inaenda State House kwanza, lakini yetu ni kura ambayo unaona sanduku iko, unaeka kura yako hapo, na mnahesabu vile inahesabika. UDA walikuwa na wasiwasi, hawangeweza kufanya hivo kwa sababu ndoo yao haingejaa na ingeonekana. Sisi tutafanya kura kwa usawa na matokeo itatoka leo,” Malala claimed.

He went ahead to claim that DCP will try to influence the people who took part in the UDA nominations so that they can vote against the ruling party during the highly anticipated July by-election.

“Hao watu walipigia UDA; tunataka tuwatembelee tuwageuze akili kidogo kwa sababu walipotea. Tunataka Kasongo asipate kura hata moja hapa Ol Kalou,” he said.

Fair nomination

Malala had earlier promised that DCP would conduct free, fair, and transparent party primaries as it selects its candidate for the upcoming Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.

Malala reaffirmed the party’s commitment to credible internal democracy, saying the exercise would reflect the will of party members in Ol Kalou Constituency.

“The Democracy for the Citizens Party reaffirms its commitment to free, fair, and transparent nominations,” Malala stated.

“As we conduct our party primaries in Ol Kalou Constituency today, we wish all aspirants success. May the most qualified candidate secure the party’s ticket to represent the people of Ol Kalou,” he added.