Democracy for the Citizens Party Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala has expressed confidence that the party has won the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.

Malala told the media on Thursday, July 16, 2026, that DCP candidate Sammy Kamau Ngotho was headed for victory as the election moved towards vote counting and tallying.

However, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission had not announced any official results by the time Malala made the declaration.

IEBC had urged voters and political parties to rely on verified information released through its official channels.

“As we head towards the tallying of votes, we are confident that we have won and that there is no cause for alarm,” Malala said.

Guarding DCP votes

Malala urged DCP supporters to remain vigilant as ballot boxes were prepared for counting.

“We just want to encourage our people not to stay at home. Everybody should now regroup at our polling centres to guard our votes,” he said.

Polling was scheduled to close at 5:00 pm. Voters who had joined queues before the closing time would still be permitted to cast their ballots.

Ngotho is facing UDA candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah and seven other candidates in the closely watched contest.

Ruto allies targeted

Malala also directed his criticism at Moses Kuria, Betty Maina and Mwangi Kiunjuri.

The three were among the political leaders who publicly backed Muchina during the UDA campaign in Ol Kalou.

“Finally, I want to ask Moses Kuria, Betty Maina and Mwangi Kiunjuri to start looking for ways to refund William Ruto his money because you have conned him,” Malala said.

He did not provide evidence that the three had received money from President William Ruto or misled him about UDA’s chances in the election.

Warning against violence

Malala warned against attempts to disrupt the election through violence as the constituency prepared for tallying.

“You will not refund his money through the shedding of blood. We are ready to deal with your goons. Nobody will allow you to do anything you have been planning,” he said.

Malala did not identify the people he described as goons or provide evidence of a plan to interfere with the tallying process.

Kuria, Maina and Kiunjuri had not publicly responded to Malala’s remarks by the time of publication.

The Ol Kalou contest has attracted national attention and is widely viewed as a political test between President Ruto’s UDA and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s DCP ahead of the 2027 General Election.