… Setting the tone of the meeting, Committee Chairman David Gikaria (Nakuru East MP) pointed to a glaring mismatch between official government statistics and realities on the ground. …
Mavoko MP Patrick Makau has called on the IEBC to probe allegations that voters in Ol Kalou are being offered cash, gas cylinders and food in exchange for surrendering their national identity cards ahead of the July 16 parliamentary by-election, claiming this denies citizens their constitutional right to vote.
Why it matters
Allegations of cash-for-IDs voter bribery in Ol Kalou raise urgent electoral integrity concerns requiring immediate IEBC investigation.
Mavoko MP Patrick Makau has called on the IEBC to probe allegations that voters in Ol Kalou are being offered cash, gas cylinders and food in exchange for surrendering their national identity cards ahead of the July 16 parliamentary by-election, claiming this denies citizens their constitutional right to vote.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission disclosed that it resolved 323 nomination disputes within ten days during the 2022 General Election period, establishing dedicated panels and waiving filing fees to ensure efficient handling and adherence to constitutional timelines.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has submitted a legal reform package to Parliament seeking powers to crack down on premature campaigns, citing that current law does not give the commission a mandate to act against politicians campaigning before the official election period.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has dispatched investigation teams to Ol Kalou to probe allegations of voter bribery, illegal late-night campaigns, violence, and the presence of suspected criminal gangs during the ongoing by-election campaign. IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the commission is investigating reports of electoral malpractices and security concerns, including a death on July 1 linked to political activity, and a video allegedly showing Nakuru Senator David Gikaria mobilizing voters through cash incentives in exchange for identification cards; those found to have violated electoral laws will face prosecution, and candidates found culpable risk disqualification.
As Ol Kalou in Nyandarua County prepares for a July 16, 2026 parliamentary by-election, politicians allied to the ruling party have flooded the agricultural town distributing mattresses, cash, boats, and gas cylinders, with the article suggesting they are essentially trading material goods for votes.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has accused the IEBC of failing to address allegations of violence, voter intimidation, and other irregularities in the ongoing Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election scheduled for July 16, warning that the conduct of this poll is a test of the commission's readiness for the 2027 General Election.
Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria has defended requiring residents receiving handouts in Ol Kalou to present national identity card details, stating the exercise was for accounting purposes and dismissing claims it aimed to influence the upcoming parliamentary by-election. Gikaria argued that Kenya's electoral system relies on biometric verification, not identity cards alone.
Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria defended his campaign's practice of collecting National Identity cards from residents during the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, saying the checks ensure campaign resources reach registered voters in assigned polling stations. Gikaria said he spent Sh1.2 million in a single day and dismissed allegations the exercise was intended to manipulate the electoral process.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has campaigned for UDA candidate Samuel Muchina in the forthcoming Ol Kalou by-election, urging voters to elect him to continue development and ensure the constituency receives its rightful share in government.
The National Assembly's Committee on Energy has expressed regret that the Last Mile Connectivity Programme remains largely incomplete, with only nine per cent of the project finished despite years of significant public investment.
Kenya's National Assembly Committee on Energy has raised concerns over slow implementation of the Last Mile Connectivity Programme, which is only 9 per cent complete despite years of substantial public investment. MPs cited a mismatch between the government's reported national electricity connectivity rate of over 70 per cent and figures as low as 20 per cent in their constituencies, while KPLC attributed delays to disruptions from the collapse of the Finance Bill 2024.