Ol Kalou by-election: IEBC declares DCP’s Sammy Kamau winner after landslide victory
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, July 17, 2026Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Douglas Waweru Kamau has been declared the winner of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election after securing a commanding 35,440 votes, defeating United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Samuel Muchina Nyaga, who garnered 5,450 votes.
The results, announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) after the vote counting on Thursday, July 16, 2026, saw Jubilee Party candidate Wilson Kigwa finish third. Kamau’s victory concludes a fiercely contested race that attracted national attention and was widely viewed as a political contest between President William Ruto’s UDA and the Rigathi Gachagua-led DCP.
IEBC’s statement
“The Returning Officer, Antony Njiraine, declared Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) duly elected Member of the National Assembly for Ol Kalou Constituency after garnering 35,440 votes in the by-election held on 16th July 2026. Samuel Muchina Nyagah (UDA) finished second with 5,450 votes,” the electoral body said.
Results by Candidate:
Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru (DCP) – 35,440
Samuel Muchina Nyagah (UDA) – 5,450
Wilson Mwaniki Kigwa (Jubilee) – 198
Stephen Wanyoike Waithaka (NLP) – 103
Timothy Kamau Kariuki (PM) – 51
Edwin Kariiri Muchiri (PNU) – 28
Abdifatah Hussein Abdullahi (FPK) – 19
Edward Mathenge Mwaniki (KMM) – 16
Rachael Wangui Njoroge (PDP) – 11
Voter Turnout
Registered Voters: 73,480
Total Votes Cast: 41,656
Voter Turnout: 57%
“IEBC thanks the voters of Ol Kalou Constituency, candidates, political parties, election officials, security agencies, observers, the media and all stakeholders for contributing to a peaceful and orderly electoral process.”
Speaking moments after he was declared the winner, Kamau called for unity and extended an olive branch to his opponents.
“Asiyekubali kushindwa si mshindani. Leo ni mimi, na kesho bado si nyinyi. 2027 bado ni mimi. All the ideas that you had – I listened to you, and you had great, brilliant ideas we can always share for the betterment of Ol Kalou; we can always engage,” Kamau said.
‘So, wherever you are, my closest opponent was the UDA candidate Samuel Muchina Nyaga. It’s good that you conceded defeat. I also want to extend a hand; you are a brother. But as I had always said, you had control of the goons, but maybe they were beyond you. Because you are serving in that office as the manager, I know we will interact as you do the handover; we can engage on one and two,” he added.
The high-stakes by-election, held on Thursday, July 16, 2026, was marred by incidents of violence after armed men travelling in unmarked vehicles allegedly attacked residents, journalists and political supporters. Security officers lobbed teargas to disperse crowds at several polling stations, leaving many people injured as tensions escalated during the voting process.
The contest followed weeks of intense campaigning that saw top political leaders from both camps traverse the constituency in a bid to sway voters. The campaigns were also characterised by allegations of voter bribery and cash handouts from rival political factions, claims that dominated the race in the final days before polling.
The by-election was occasioned by the death of former Ol Kalou MP David Kiaraho. Kamau’s decisive victory now hands DCP a significant political win in what was closely watched as a key test of political strength ahead of the 2027 general election.