Ol Kalou is a do-or-die for Ruto and Gachagua
The Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election has become a high-stakes political battleground between President William Ruto and his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua. Opposition leaders are rallying behind a single candidate to challenge the ruling party's influence in the Mt Kenya region.
Why it matters
The outcome serves as a critical referendum on political control and regional influence in Kenya following a major fallout within the ruling administration.
United opposition leaders during a meeting in Nairobi on January 28, 2026 /ENOS TECHE
The Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election has evolved into a high-stakes political showdown between President William Ruto and his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.
The outcome is expected to influence next year's political landscape in the Mt Kenya region.
The Star has established that the Linda Mwananchi movement, led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, is set to back DCP candidate Sammy Ngotho.
The by-election has attracted nine candidates, most of them drawn from parties aligned with the united opposition.
They are Ngotho, Samuel Muchina (UDA), Timothy Kamau (People’s Renaissance Movement), Edwin Muchiri (PNU), Wilson Kigwa (Jubilee), Stephen Wanyoike (NLP), Rachael Njoroge (PDP), Edward Mwaniki (Kenya Moja Movement) and Abdifatah Hussein (Federal Party of Kenya).
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