Ol Kalou by-election: ELOG demands probe over claimed ksh200 to ksh5,000 vote buying
By Aloys Michael, July 15, 2026The Elections Observation Group (ELOG) has called for investigations into reported voter bribery ahead of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, claiming its observers documented incidents where voters were reportedly offered between Ksh200 and Ksh5,000 during campaigns before Thursday’s poll.
Speaking on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, while releasing ELOG’s pre-election observation findings, chairperson Victor Nyongesa said the observer mission had recorded reports of voter inducement that could undermine the credibility of the Ol Kalou by-election if left unchecked.
“Our report notes that there was vote buying and distribution of cash and material incentives across the constituency,” Nyongesa said.
The observer group said the claimed voter inducement was reported across different parts of the constituency and was linked by observers to actors from nearly all political parties participating in the by-election.
Nyongesa said the reported cash handouts ranged from Ksh200 to more than Ksh5,000, with some voters also said to be receiving household items as campaign incentives.
According to ELOG, one of the methods reported by its observers involved groups of three people receiving Ksh1,000 in what locals referred to as “330 meetings.”
“The recipients of these included women, youth and persons with disabilities,” Nyongesa said.
Vote-buying claims
ELOG warned that the reported incidents of voter bribery could erode public confidence in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, urging relevant authorities to investigate the accusations and take action against anyone found to have violated electoral laws.
The organisation said credible elections depend not only on efficient administration but also on campaigns conducted in accordance with the Constitution and Kenya’s electoral laws.
The observer group stressed that allegations of voter inducement should be addressed promptly to safeguard the integrity of the poll scheduled for Thursday, July 16.
ELOG has deployed long-term observers across the constituency to monitor the pre-election environment and said it will continue observing voting, counting and tallying before issuing its post-election assessment.
IEBC preparations
Despite raising concerns over the reported voter inducement, ELOG said its observers had also noted progress in preparations by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ahead of polling day.
According to the group’s findings, 92 per cent of observers confirmed that election officials had undergone training, while 45 per cent reported that voter education activities were ongoing across the constituency.
ELOG said the administrative preparations are a positive step but cautioned that they must be matched by campaigns that comply with electoral regulations to ensure a free, fair and credible election.
The Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2026, with voters expected to elect a new Member of Parliament in a closely watched contest featuring candidates from several political parties and independent aspirants.
The observer group said it will remain on the ground throughout the voting process to monitor compliance with electoral laws and provide further updates on the conduct of the election.