United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Hassan Omar has dismissed the significance of the party's loss in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, maintaining that it does not diminish President William Ruto's prospects of securing a second term in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking on Friday at Hustler Plaza following the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission's (IEBC) declaration of the by-election results, Omar said the outcome reflected the democratic process and insisted the ruling party had already turned its attention to preparations for the 2027 polls.
"We know that the overall landscape in this country is tilted towards President William Ruto's re-election to a second term, and we are confident that that will happen. We are confident that the bases that support and have felt the confidence of this government will, without a doubt, ensure a victorious march to the second term."
The Ol Kalou by-election was won by Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru, handing former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's party its first seat in the National Assembly and dealing UDA a significant political setback in the Mount Kenya region.
Omar, however, insisted that elections should not divide the country, urging Kenyans to embrace democratic outcomes and maintain national unity.
"President William Ruto's remarks that elections are not everything, that a nation is not a matter of life and death for any nation, remain true. Elections are no more than political contestations; they happen, they end, and the nation has to move on as one united, indivisible country. The same way, in our victories, we appeared magnanimous and moved on. We will move on from this loss and prepare for the next election cycle, which is the General Election."
His remarks come in the wake of UDA's heavy defeat in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, where the party's candidate, Samuel Muchina Nyagah, garnered 5,450 votes against Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru's 35,440 votes.
The emphatic victory earned DCP its first seat in the National Assembly and was widely seen as a major setback for President William Ruto's ruling party.
The by-election was conducted following the death of former Ol Kalou MP David Njuguna Kiaraho on March 29, 2026, with the outcome signalling a notable shift in the constituency's political landscape.
Moving on, the SG also criticised DCP Party leader Rigathi Gachagua over his repeated attacks on security agencies and other state institutions following the by-election.
"The systematic attack on security agencies and other institutions of this country by Rigathi Gachagua shows an insecure leader, a leader preparing the country for a crisis, a leader driven by insecurity, harbouring the imagination that everybody is positioned against him. He profiles all communities that do not agree with him. He profiled the Luo community and now profiles the Kalenjin community and anybody else that he feels obstructs his radar of success."
Omar defended the conduct of security agencies during the by-election, saying the poll ended peacefully and commending officers for their work.
"We are happy that these elections ended without any major incidents, and therefore commend the security agencies led by Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja. I also commend my brothers, Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen and Interior PS Raymond Omollo, who have been at the receiving end of the vitriol."
He concluded by urging UDA members to remain steadfast despite the electoral setback.
"Millions are resilient. This party is resilient. I urge our party membership to move forward with more resilience and more resoluteness. I am also very grateful to the gallant warriors on the front lines who participated in the Ol Kalou elections with a lot of valour, vigour and bravery. As UDA, we will exclude no one and will leave no part or corner of this country to our political competitors."