Gachagua Alleges One Killed, 20 Shot, 68 Women Sexually Assaulted During Ol Kalou By-Election
Politics Updated: 17 July 2026 12:26 EAT
DCP Party Leader Rigathi Gachagua addressing the press after DCP candidate won the Ol Kalou parliamentary seat
Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has alleged that one person was killed, more than 20 others suffered gunshot wounds and 68 women were sexually assaulted during Thursday's parliamentary by-election in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County. He made the claims on Friday while addressing the media, describing the violence as a coordinated attack on voters and opposition supporters.
According to Gachagua, armed and hooded men unleashed violence in several parts of the constituency, targeting residents, party agents and election officials. He claimed the attackers operated with impunity and accused state security agencies of failing to protect voters during the exercise.
The former Deputy President alleged that 68 women were sexually assaulted during the incidents and called for immediate investigations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and other relevant agencies. He urged authorities to ensure those responsible are identified and prosecuted.
Gachagua further claimed that more than 20 people were admitted to hospital with gunshot injuries sustained during the violence, while one person died during the clashes. He appealed to hospitals to preserve medical records, saying they would be important in any future investigations into the incidents.
The allegations came after a by-election that was marked by isolated incidents of violence, disruption and attacks on journalists covering the poll. Several media organisations condemned the assault of journalists and called for swift action against those responsible.
Ahead of the vote, Gachagua had warned of alleged plans to interfere with the election through voter intimidation, delayed accreditation of party agents and the deployment of armed groups. Government officials had previously dismissed the accusations, maintaining that security officers were deployed solely to maintain law and order.
Despite the reported disruptions, voting proceeded across the constituency before polling stations closed and ballot counting began. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) later declared DCP candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru the winner of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
The victory handed DCP a significant political win in the Mt Kenya region, with party leaders describing the outcome as a reflection of voter dissatisfaction with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA). UDA leaders, however, have maintained that the election was conducted within the law despite the reported incidents.
As of Friday, Gachagua's claims that one person was killed, more than 20 were shot and 68 women were sexually assaulted had not been independently verified by the National Police Service, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority or other official investigative agencies. No official casualty figures had been released by the authorities at the time of publication.
Tags: DCP DCP Leader Rigathi Gachagua Dp Rigathi Gachagua Edit Editor's Pick ODM-UDA Pact Ol Kalou MP Political Party Political Partys Political Science Political tensions Politics Rigathi Gachagua Signs Signs Media Kenya Limited Signs Tv Signsmedia Signstv Signstvkenya Uda UDA Wantam Wantam William Kamoti
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