Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru's victory in the fiercely contested Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election is now official after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) published a Gazette Notice confirming him as the constituency's duly elected Member of Parliament.
The gazettement brings to a close an election that drew countrywide attention and unfolded amid political rivalry, violence and claims of voter intimidation.
The Gazette Notice, dated July 22, 2026, was issued by IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon, who said the declaration was made under Articles 88 (4), 97 (1) (a), 101 (4) and 103 of the Constitution, Section 4 of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act, 2011, Sections 16, 38, 39 (1) and 74 of the Elections Act, 2011, and Regulation 83 of the Elections (General) Regulations, 2012.
“IEBC declares that the person listed in the Schedule hereunder was elected as the Member of National Assembly, Ol Kalou Constituency, having received the majority of the votes cast in the by-election held on July 16, 2026 and complied with the provisions of the Constitution, the Elections Act, 2011 and Elections (General) Regulations, 2012,” reads the notice.
The commission listed Waweru, who contested on the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) ticket, as the successful candidate after polling 35,440 votes.
Official results released by the electoral body showed he defeated United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Samuel Muchina Nyaga, who garnered 5,450 votes.
The IEBC said 41,656 ballots were cast from a register of 73,480 voters, translating to a voter turnout of 57 per cent.
Although the election delivered a decisive winner, it was also marked by unrest in several parts of the constituency. Armed men travelling in unmarked vehicles were accused of attacking residents, journalists and political supporters during polling.
Police fired teargas at several polling stations to disperse crowds as tensions escalated, with a number of people sustaining injuries.
The by-election followed weeks of heated campaigns that turned Ol Kalou into one of Kenya's most closely watched political battlegrounds, with President William Ruto's UDA party facing off against the Democracy for the Citizens Party led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The campaigns also attracted allegations of cash handouts involving rival political camps as both sides intensified efforts to win over voters.
Following the declaration of the results, Waweru condemned the deaths of two people reported during the by-election, saying the incidents took place despite the presence of security officers.
“Their families deserve justice, and our constituency deserves answers,” he added.