Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Douglas Waweru Kamau has been elected the new Ol Kalou Member of Parliament after securing a commanding victory in one of the country's most closely watched and fiercely contested parliamentary by-elections.
Official results announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) showed Kamau garnering 35,440 votes, far ahead of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah, who received about 5,450 votes.
The wide margin handed DCP its first parliamentary seat since the party was formed and dealt President William Ruto's UDA a major political blow in a contest widely viewed as a key test of political support in the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Nine candidates were in the race.
The outcome capped weeks of intense campaigns that turned Ol Kalou into a major political battleground, drawing senior leaders from both the Kenya Kwanza administration and the opposition as each side sought to prove its strength in the constituency.
UDA based its campaign on government development projects, with Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, governors and Members of Parliament holding rallies across the constituency to rally support for Muchina.
The campaigns also featured the distribution of various items, including mattresses, water tanks, gas cylinders and boats. Government leaders maintained the items formed part of ongoing development programmes, while opposition leaders argued they were meant to sway voters.
DCP, on the other hand, focused its campaign on the high cost of living, economic challenges facing Kenyans and the need for political change. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua led several rallies alongside Nyandarua Senator John Methu, Woman Representative Wanjiku Muhia and other opposition leaders in support of Kamau's bid.
The campaigns were marked by heightened political tensions, with allegations of voter bribery, violence, intimidation and destruction of campaign materials dominating the contest.
The IEBC Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee summoned several politicians over alleged violations of campaign rules, fined some of them and directed those involved to commit themselves to peaceful campaigns.
The by-election period also witnessed attacks on journalists by suspected goons while covering campaign activities, prompting condemnation from media stakeholders and human rights groups.
Security was heightened across the constituency on polling day, with more than 1,000 officers drawn from the General Service Unit (GSU), Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the regular police deployed to maintain order.
After voting ended, ballot boxes were transported under heavy police escort from polling stations to the constituency tallying centre at Ol Kalou Senior School, where supporters from both camps gathered as results streamed in.
As Kamau opened a clear lead, DCP supporters outside the tallying centre broke into song and prayer, singing "Ametenda maajabu na siwezi kueleza" while celebrating what they described as a historic victory.
The win is expected to strengthen Gachagua's political influence in the Mt Kenya region while giving DCP fresh momentum as political parties begin positioning themselves for the 2027 General Election.
For UDA, the loss ends its recent run of success in competitive by-elections and is expected to fuel fresh debate over the changing political landscape in the Mt Kenya voting bloc.