Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina has said she and a fellow leader were trailed by a vehicle after receiving information that East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) member Kanini Kega had come under attack following campaign activities in Ol Kalou.

Speaking during a phone interview on Monday, July 13, 2026, Maina said she was relieved that Kega escaped unharmed but expressed concern over what she described as growing political intimidation ahead of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.

“I think it’s very unfortunate. And we are grateful that Kanini Kega made it out alive,” she said.

“We have seen intimidation from government today. Kanini Kega was attacked. He was in hiding. He was rescued by residents of Ol Kalau [and] well-wishers.”

She said she and the Kirinyaga senator were having lunch at Makuti when they received information that Kega had been threatened, shot at, and forced into hiding.

Events after Kega incident

Maina said they immediately left to find out what had happened and assist Kega.

“And a Subaru that had been parked outside, and we immediately left in our car. It just started trailing us. So I can say this is the government.” She said they managed to reach their destination safely despite being followed.

Maina described residents of Ol Kalou as peaceful and welcoming, saying they were not responsible for the incidents reported during the campaigns.

“The residents are very peaceful themselves. The residents are very calm. It’s a very quiet environment from the people. They’re very welcoming.”

She noted that government leaders campaigning in the area had continued with their activities without similar incidents.

“You have seen that the government has been able to do their meetings. And it is quite unfortunate that none of the MPs or CSs or PSs that are within Ol Kalou allied to government have been attacked, have been intimidated.”

Calls for restraint

Maina questioned whether security agencies would be able to investigate the incidents impartially.

“I do not think and believe that the National Police Service, the DCI, and any other security entity should allow itself to be abused by the government given that they are protected and vested with powers by the constitution of Kenya to protect from these kinds of scenarios.”

She added that she had little confidence the institutions would address the matter if those behind the incidents were state actors.

“And then we can’t say that we have hope in institutions like the National Police Service or the DCI, because if it is the state perpetuating and perpetrating these kinds of orchestrated attacks and intimidations, then they cannot be able to resolve the same, because that would be working against what they’re doing.”

Maina called on the government to exercise restraint and ensure residents can vote peacefully in the July 16, 2026 by-election. “And I just think what I can call for is restraint from the government. Let them allow the people of Ol Kalou to vote peacefully.”

Kega’s account

Earlier on, Kega said he had escaped after armed men he identified as police officers pursued his convoy following campaign activities in Ol Kalou.

In a video recorded from a house in Oljororok, Nyandarua County, Kega said the group pointed guns at him and sprayed his vehicle with bullets.

He also displayed what he said was a broken gun butt and a live bullet, saying the items had been handed over to the Officer Commanding Station at Kasuku Police Station.

The incidents followed Sunday’s violence in Nyahururu, where Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata said his driver was shot during a Linda Mwananchi rally, a claim that police disputed as political activity intensifies ahead of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.