Ol Kalou MP-elect Sammy Douglas Kamau says his landslide by-election victory demonstrated that voters rejected inducements in favour of what he described as genuine leadership.
Speaking on Citizen TV on Sunday, Kamau alleged the campaign was characterised by state intimidation and violence, while pledging to prioritise prudent management of constituency funds, infrastructure development and stronger representation during his first year in office.
The MP noted that he would focus on fulfilling the promises he made to residents during the campaign, even as he maintained that the election was among the most challenging he had contested.
He argued that despite what he described as an intense government-backed campaign, the outcome reflected the determination of Ol Kalou voters to elect leaders they believed would deliver on their commitments.
"It was such a tough moment campaigning against the government. The government brought all its machinery to the ground. First and foremost, we thank God for the victorious win and also the people of Ol Kalou for making that firm decision against all those goodies that came to Ol Kalou."
Kamau claimed voters rejected what he described as the widespread distribution of gifts during the campaign.
The Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election was held on July 16, 2026 to fill the vacancy left by the death of three-term MP David Njuguna Kiaraho, who died in March 29, 2026, while undergoing treatment.
IEBC declared Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru the winner with 35,440 votes, defeating United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah, who garnered 5,450 votes.
Other candidates included 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) and Rachael Wangui Njoroge (PDP, 11).
The campaign was marked by extensive government project launches, cash transfers and frequent visits by senior officials, which opposition leaders described as attempts to influence voters through state-backed inducements, allegations the government rejected.
Reflecting on the scale of his victory, the legislator explained that the outcome showed that voters could not be swayed by money alone, arguing that genuine leadership ultimately prevailed.
"People now know that winning an election is not about spending the most money during campaigns. They want leaders who make promises and keep them. There are four things money cannot buy: trust, patience, time and the people of Ol Kalou."
Moving further, the by-election was overshadowed by incidents of violence and alleged goonism that heightened political tensions on polling day.
Hooded groups were reported to have disrupted voting in several areas, with opposition leaders accusing hired gangs of intimidating voters, attacking rivals and interfering with the electoral process.
In response, security agencies deployed more than 1,000 police officers, including specialised units, to secure polling stations and maintain order.
The government maintained that the deployment was intended to protect voters, election officials and electoral materials, while the National Police Service launched investigations into reported assaults and other election-related offences.
Authorities also pledged to identify and prosecute those responsible under the Election Offences Act and other applicable laws.
The Ol Kalou MP stressed that the violence and intimidation were aimed at disrupting the electoral process, alleging that hooded gangs were behind the unrest.
He claimed residents responded by barricading roads with stones and felled trees to restrict the movement of the groups, while large crowds gathered whenever they attempted to access police stations.
According to Kamau, the situation could have been contained had security agencies been allowed to carry out their duties without interference.
Looking ahead, he stated that his immediate priority is to fulfil the promises he made to voters during the campaign.
He maintained that his first-year agenda will focus on prudent management of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), equitable allocation of development resources, infrastructure improvement, provision of full school uniforms for Grade Six learners transitioning to Grade Seven, and strengthening representation to ensure the interests of Ol Kalou residents are effectively championed in Parliament.