PPA party leader Arnold Maliba: We have never had a by-election, only a buy-election
By David Nthua, July 16, 2026Party Leader, Progress Plus Alliance (PPA) Arnold Maliba has criticised the conduct of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, describing it as a “buy-election”.
Maliba told a local TV station on Thursday, July 16, 2026, that the contest had shifted from choosing a new MP to testing the political strength of President William Ruto and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
“We have never had a by-election, only a ‘buy-election’ that is unconstitutional,” Maliba said.
Police conduct questioned
“The Ol Kalou by-election has become a contest between Gachagua and Ruto. It is giving them a chance to prove who has the strongest foothold in Mt Kenya.”
Maliba did not provide evidence to support his description of the election as a “buy-election”.
The PPA leader also criticised the conduct of police officers deployed during the voting exercise.
He asked security personnel to avoid actions that could cause tension among residents.
“Police should stop the unnecessary provocation of Ol Kalou residents. They are very peaceful in the way they vote,” Maliba said.
His remarks came amid complaints from political leaders over the presence of groups of young people and plain-clothes officers in parts of the constituency.
Police authorities had not publicly confirmed that officers were provoking voters by the time of publication.
Goons debate
Maliba further weighed in on accusations that political leaders had mobilised groups to interfere with the election.
He said politicians could still be responsible for the actions of their supporters even when they were not physically present with them.
“You don’t have to have goons in your office for you to employ them elsewhere,” Maliba said.
“It does not make you innocent that you were not spotted with them, yet they are loyal to you.”
He did not name the leaders he was referring to or provide evidence linking any politician to groups operating in Ol Kalou.
Karua faults IEBC
People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua separately criticised the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission over its handling of the election.
Karua said the electoral agency had powers to respond to reported violations but had failed to act decisively.
“Power not exercised in defence of the law is power surrendered to those who break it,” Karua said.
“The IEBC had every tool to act on Ol Kalou. It could have done more, but did not. What should Kenyans expect come 2027?”
IEBC had not publicly responded to Maliba and Karua’s remarks by the time of publication.