Ruto accepts Ol Kalou verdict, urges unity after 'bruising' contest
Kenyan President William Ruto has called for political unity following a significant by-election defeat for his UDA party in Ol Kalou. He urged leaders to focus on service delivery and national development rather than ethnic or divisive politics.
Why it matters
The result serves as a barometer for political sentiment in the Mt Kenya region and highlights the challenges facing the ruling party's influence.
President William Ruto speaks when he hosted grassroots leaders from Bungoma County, led by Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, at State House, Nairobi, July 17, 2026. /PCS × A day after his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) suffered a heavy defeat in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, President William Ruto has urged leaders to work together regardless of political differences.
Ruto said the Ol Kalou electorate had made their choice by electing Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru and called on leaders to focus on delivering services instead of dwelling on political divisions.
Speaking on Friday when he hosted grassroots leaders from Bungoma County led by Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa at State House, Nairobi, the President said elected leaders would ultimately be judged by their performance and ability to improve the lives of citizens.
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