Former Deputy President and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has alleged that one person was killed, 20 suffered gunshot wounds and 68 women were sexually assaulted by police officers during Thursday's Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
Speaking during a press briefing in Nyahururu, Nyandarua County, on Friday, July 17, 2026, Gachagua alleged that armed and hooded men unleashed violence in several parts of the constituency, targeting residents, opposition party agents and election officials.
The Former Deputy President claimed the attackers operated with impunity, accusing state security agencies of failing to protect voters during the exercise.
Gachagua identifed the person killed as James Muigai, noting those injured were nursing gunshot wounds and head injuries.
The DCP leader accused Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi, Murang'a MP Betty Maina and Dennis Itumbi of leading the team of police officers he blamed for terrorising Ol Kalou residents.
He further named Nakuru Town MP David Gikaria, Kiambu MP Ann Wamuratha, Nyandarua MP Faith Gitau, Kiambaa MP John Kawanjiku, nominated MP Sabina Chege, Bahati MP Irene Njoki and Mbeere North MP Leonard Wamuthende as coordinators of the attacks.
Further, he accused Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen of orchestrating the chaos, dismissing Murkomen's earlier calls for investigation.
"If Murkomen has called for an investigation, he must call for an investigation into his own person because he is the one who authorised these attacks in Ol Kalou," he claimed.
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).
