The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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President William Ruto has called on political leaders to put aside partisan differences and focus on development after the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) lost the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
Speaking on Friday at State House, Nairobi, during a meeting with grassroots leaders from Bungoma County led by Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, the President said the people of Ol Kalou had exercised their democratic right by electing Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru.
Ruto urged all elected leaders, including the newly elected MP, to concentrate on serving the public, emphasizing that leadership would ultimately be judged by performance rather than political rivalry.
He cautioned against politics driven by ethnic divisions, saying such approaches only undermine national unity. According to the President, Kenyans are capable of evaluating leaders based on their record, vision and commitment to improving citizens’ lives.
The President’s remarks came a day after Waweru secured a decisive victory in the closely watched by-election, widely viewed as a key political contest in the Mt Kenya region.
Waweru garnered 35,440 votes, comfortably defeating UDA candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah, who received 5,450 votes. The remaining seven candidates each polled fewer than 200 votes in an election that recorded a 57 percent voter turnout across 144 polling stations in five wards.
The win handed DCP its first seat in the National Assembly and reinforced claims by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his allies that he continues to command significant political influence in the Mt Kenya region.
Gachagua’s supporters have described the outcome as a demonstration of his enduring support in a region that played a crucial role in President Ruto’s 2022 election victory by delivering an estimated 3.5 million votes.
Relations between Ruto and Gachagua deteriorated following the former Deputy President’s impeachment in October 2024, leading to a political fallout that has shaped the country’s evolving political landscape ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Despite the setback, Ruto maintained that political competition should not hinder cooperation among leaders, urging politicians to reject tribalism, hostility and divisive rhetoric in favour of development and national progress.
Meanwhile, UDA allies have downplayed the significance of the Ol Kalou result, arguing that it does not reflect the broader national political picture. They note that of the 10 parliamentary and senatorial by-elections held in recent months, UDA has won six seats, while its coalition partner ODM secured three and DCP claimed one.
The ruling party maintains that its performance across the country demonstrates it continues to enjoy a stronger national presence despite the heavy loss in Ol Kalou.
