Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has criticised the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) over its warning that it could postpone or cancel the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, saying the commission should enforce the law against those violating campaign rules instead of issuing blanket warnings.

In a statement posted on X on Thursday, July 9, 2026, Sifuna dismissed the commission’s position as an attempt to avoid its constitutional mandate.

“This is just IEBC running away from responsibility. Everyone can see who is violating the law. The commission should punish those openly bribing voters and using state resources to campaign. Instead it creates a false equivalence and threatens to punish everyone. Very escapist,” he said.

The Ol Kalou by-election, scheduled for July 16, 2026, was triggered by the death of area MP David Njuguna Kiaraho. The contest has attracted candidates from both the ruling and opposition camps, including United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru.

The campaign period has been marked by reports of voter bribery, destruction of campaign materials, night campaigns and violence.

IEBC warns over by-election

IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon issued the warning during a press briefing in Nairobi on Thursday, saying the commission would take action if conditions remained unsuitable for a credible election.

“If we find that the environment is not conducive enough for us to conclude the by-election in Ol Kalou, we will be left with no choice other than to take the unfortunate and drastic step of postponing the elections in Ol Kalou. And if that’s not enough, we will cancel it altogether,” Ethekon stated.

The IEBC chairperson said one person was killed during a confrontation on the night of July 1, 2026. “Daytime, the place is peaceful. At night, madness descends,” he noted.

He also cited voter bribery and interference by state officials as issues affecting the by-election.

Sifuna, who is part of the opposition Linda Mwananchi movement, said the commission already has enough information to take action against individuals violating the Electoral Code of Conduct instead of threatening to postpone the entire exercise.

Opposition raises concerns

DCP candidate Sammy Kamau Waweru also criticised the commission, saying it had failed to act despite reports of voter bribery and the destruction of his campaign billboards.

“We signed the Electoral Code of Conduct and committed to abide by it. I wonder why the IEBC has not taken any action,” Kamau said in an interview with Kameme FM.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also commented on the by-election, saying President William Ruto had spent more than Ksh1 billion on bribes and Ksh10 billion on projects in the constituency without influencing voters.

He said the government was pushing for the postponement of the by-election to create more time for inducements and planned violence that would give the IEBC grounds to defer the poll.

The Linda Mwananchi movement also said IEBC officials were under pressure to procure an election management system that would favour the ruling side ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The group further claimed the commission had remained silent on the use of state resources during campaigns, including the distribution of LPG cylinders in Ol Kalou.

The Ol Kalou contest has drawn national attention ahead of the 2027 General Election, with the IEBC under pressure to enforce the Electoral Code of Conduct as campaigns enter their final days before the July 16 vote.