The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Newly elected Ol Kalou Member of Parliament Sammy Douglas Waweru Kamau made his way to Parliament for his swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday by boarding a public service matatu, capturing the moment for his social media followers.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) legislator shared photos and videos of the trip online, thanking God and the residents of Ol Kalou for entrusting him with the seat. Citing Psalm 118:24, he expressed gratitude for the honor of representing his constituents as he headed to the swearing-in.
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Kamau clinched the Ol Kalou parliamentary seat in a landslide victory during one of Kenya’s most fiercely contested by-elections, defeating his closest opponent by a massive margin while running on the DCP ticket.
According to official results released by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Kamau garnered over 35,440 votes, dwarfing UDA candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah’s roughly 5,450 votes — a decisive win for the opposition party.
Nine candidates in total contested the seat. The remaining contenders polled as follows: Abdifatah Hussein Abdallah (FPK) — 19 votes, Timothy Kariuki (PPM) — 51 votes, Wilson Mwaniki (Jubilee) — 198 votes, Edwin Kareri (PNU) — 28 votes, Edward Mathenge (KKM) — 16 votes, Rachel Wangui (PDP) — 11 votes, and Stephen Waithaka (NLP) — 103 votes.
The victory marks DCP’s first parliamentary seat since its founding and represents a significant blow to President William Ruto’s UDA party, in a contest widely seen as a gauge of political sentiment in the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The by-election drew intense competition from the outset, pulling in senior political figures from both the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition and opposition camps, who transformed the constituency into a high-stakes political battleground.
UDA ran an aggressive campaign centered on showcasing government development projects, with several Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, governors, and MPs canvassing the constituency in support of Muchina. The campaign period also saw the distribution of items such as mattresses, water tanks, gas cylinders, and boats, which government officials described as part of ongoing development efforts — though opposition leaders characterized the gesture as a bid to sway voters.
DCP, meanwhile, built its campaign around grievances over the high cost of living and economic hardship, calling for political change. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua spearheaded a series of rallies alongside Nyandarua Senator John Methu, Woman Representative Wanjiku Muhia, and other opposition figures throughout the campaign.
