The United Opposition has accused the government of using security agencies to influence the forthcoming Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, stating that police deployments in the constituency are politically motivated.

Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, speaking during a presser on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, claimed there is an unusual mobilisation of police officers from different parts of the country to Ol Kalou and urged officers deployed to the constituency to discharge their duties impartially.

“We are aware of the mobilisation of police from all corners of the republic to go to Ol Kalou. We urge police in Ol Kalou to perform their duties impartially and reject any unlawful orders to violate the law and play partisan roles,” Muturi said.

Call for political neutrality

He further reminded the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) that police officers deployed to provide security during elections are considered election officials and must remain politically neutral.

“To the IEBC, the police who man elections are deemed to be electoral officials, and any unlawful orders or partisan engagement by police will be attributed to the IEBC if not acted upon,” he said.

Muturi linked the concerns over the Ol Kalou by-election to what he described as a pattern of attacks targeting opposition leaders that he claimed had not been adequately investigated.

He cited an April incident in which opposition leaders Kalonzo Musyoka and Eugene Wamalwa were attacked while travelling to a political rally in Kikuyu, saying no action had been taken against those responsible.

Muturi also referred to a recent incident involving People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua, claiming she was attacked while accompanying clients during the implementation of High Court orders in Mukuru kwa Ruben despite court-directed security arrangements.

“These incidents, together with the events unfolding across the country, raise serious questions about whether public institutions are discharging their constitutional obligations impartially and effectively,” he said.

Normalisation of political violence

Muturi warned against the normalisation of political violence, saying ordinary Kenyans bear the greatest cost whenever violence erupts.

“History teaches us that political violence rarely harms politicians most. It destroys the livelihoods of ordinary Kenyans. It is traders whose businesses are looted, boda boda riders whose motorcycles are burnt and families who lose loved ones,” he said.

The opposition further argued that Kenya’s democratic gains should not be eroded by political intolerance. They called on the government to guarantee equal security for all political players regardless of affiliation.

“Kenya demonstrated constitutional maturity in 2022 through a peaceful transfer of presidential power. We must not allow that achievement to be undermined by a growing culture of intimidation, goonism, and state-sponsored political violence,” Kalonzo said.

“We therefore call upon the Government to reassure all Kenyans that every lawful political gathering will receive equal protection under the law. Public confidence in the impartiality of state institutions is indispensable to democratic stability.”