Ol Kalou by-election: Muturi demands probe into Ksh500 mobile money transfers
By David Nthua, July 16, 2026Former Attorney General Justin Muturi has urged the IEBC and law enforcement agencies to investigate claims of mobile money transfers linked to the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
In a Facebook statement on Thursday, July 16, 2026, Muturi said screenshots circulating online had raised concerns over possible voter inducement and called on IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon to address the claims.
“I am calling upon IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon and the relevant law enforcement agencies to speak up and investigate these reports of offensive and outright bribery using mobile money transfers,” Muturi wrote.
Screenshots circulate online
The screenshots shared on social media appeared to show several people receiving Ksh500 through mobile money.
Some of the accompanying messages described the money as transport assistance and encouraged the recipients to participate in the Ol Kalou by-election.
However, People Daily Digital could not independently authenticate the screenshots, establish who sent the money or determine whether the recipients were registered voters in Ol Kalou.
It was also not immediately clear whether the transactions had any connection to a candidate, political party or campaign involved in the parliamentary contest.
No official finding had been made linking the reported transfers to voter bribery by the time of publication.
Muturi demands answers
Muturi urged the electoral commission to clarify the circumstances surrounding the screenshots and determine whether any electoral laws had been breached.
He said relevant institutions should take responsibility if investigations establish that the transfers were intended to influence voters.
“If true, we need nothing but resignation,” Muturi said while demanding accountability from officials responsible for overseeing the election.
Kenyan election laws prohibit candidates, their agents or other individuals from offering money or other benefits to influence how a voter casts a ballot.
IEBC response awaited
The Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election attracted 73,480 registered voters across 144 polling stations in five wards.
The election was being conducted under the supervision of IEBC, with security officers deployed to polling centres across the constituency.
IEBC and the relevant security agencies had not issued a public response to Muturi’s request by the time of publication.
The commission had yet to state whether it had received a formal complaint concerning the screenshots circulating online.