By Dawan Africa - Admin
Welcome to this blog covering the events happening at the Ol Kalou parliamentary by election.
7:54 am - Residents turned up early to vote. Ol Kalaou have turned out in large numbers. All 144 polling stations in the five wards opened right on schedule, giving the 73,480 registered voters a smooth shot at exercising their democratic right.
The candidates are:
- Samuel Muchina Nyagah (UDA)
- Sammy Douglas Kamau Ngotho (DCP)
- Wilson Kigwa (Jubilee)
- Rachel Wangui Njoroge (People's Democratic Party)
- Edward Mathenge (Independent)
- Stephen Wanyoike Waithaka (National Liberal Party)
- Edwin Kariiri Muchiri (PNU).
8:00am - UDA candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah has cast his vote at Huruma Primary School. He says he is ready for the outcome in an interview after the vote.
8:15 am - Security heightened at Huruma Primary School in Ol Kalou Constituency ahead of UDA candidate Samuel Muchina’s arrival to cast his ballot.
8:16 am - Heavy police presence at Huruma primary school where UDA candidate casted his vote.
9:19 am - DCP leader Cleophas Malala urges the people to cast their vote but also guard it outside the pollling station.
9:20 am : Vehicles without number plates reported to be in the area. Government Security says they are watching over the area and warn those with these vehicles should know its a crime.
9:30 am : Long lines of voters in Ol Kalou
10:09 am: Tense altercation as Olkalou residents wrestle someone with a firearm. Ol Kalou residents seen publicly calling out plain clothes police believed to be messing with the voting process.
10:14 am : Voting is ongoing smoothly at A.C. Ol Kalou Primary as Kenya watches
10:49 am - Voting at Ol Kalou continues as DCP Aspirant Sammy Ngotho casts his votes. He urged voters to continue coming before the voting ends at 5 pm.
10:50am : Allegations of bribing of voters in Ol Kalou continues.
11:00am : Senator Methu says he has not noticed any major issues but notes he has never seen such a high tunout to vote as people are out in large numbers.
11:26 am : Voter turnout has been impressive across Ol Kalou Constituency in today’s parliamentary by-election. Large, peaceful crowds had already formed long queues by as early as 6:00 AM, a clear sign of strong civic engagement in what analysts are calling a high-stakes rac, one that could set the tone for the build-up to the 2027 General Election.
11:50 am - Allegedly ,UDA MP Wamuthende has tried to enter Mathakwa polling station with hooded men but residents wailed leading to the individuals running to the thicket.
More from Kenya
12:02 pm : Senator Methu and Jane Kihara accompany Sammy Kamau Ngotho Nyandarua Governor to cast his vote in Ol Kalou
12: 10 pm : People’s Renaissance Movement (PRM) candidate Timothy Kamau Kariuki arrived at Kieni Primary School in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County, riding a donkey to cast his vote in the fiercely contested parliamentary by-election
12:30 pm : An elderly man who was ill was carried by others to Rurii Polling Centre in Ol Kalou to cast his vote before returning to his sickbed.
13.31 pm : Kiems Kits delays reported at some stations. Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina has urged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to allow Presiding Officers to use the alternative voter identification system where necessary to speed up the voting process.
14:07 pm : Police officers forced to open their bags after Ol Kalou residents allege they were carrying election materials
14:50 pm : Wamuthende of UDA seen protecting Senator Methu from DCP from his goons.
14: 55pm : Journalists covering the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election were attacked by armed men wearing balaclavas at AC Primary School polling station on Thursday.
According to reports, an NTV cameraman was allegedly tased, beaten and had his camera taken, while a reporter was held at gunpoint and robbed of his mobile phone.
The incident came just hours after anti-riot police withdrew from the polling station following a standoff with residents, who had insisted on checking the contents of police vehicles before letting them in.
15:00 pm : Running battles between police and residents in Ol Kalou as Thursday’s charged parliamentary by-election enters critical stage
15:15 pm : DCP candidate Sammy Kamau Ngotho on Thursday joined Ol Kalou residents in protesting the presence of unidentified masked individuals seen moving across the constituency and attempting to gain entry into polling stations during the ongoing parliamentary by-election.
17:15 pm : Tear gas briefly disrupted voting at Ol Kalou as DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua called for Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to resign, accusing him of failing to control the police service and allowing officers to interfere with the electoral process during the parliamentary by-election.
17:20 pm : IEBC has explained the next steps for counting votes and announcing results in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, saying the process will be open and transparent with agents, observers and the media present.
The commission said that once polling closes at 5pm, the Presiding Officer will open the ballot box, count the votes and tabulate the results at the polling station. Agents on site will be allowed to take photos of the official results forms, while a signed copy will also be posted at the polling station for public viewing.
Vote counting begun at all polling stations in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election after voting officially closed at 5pm.
Presiding officers started tallying the ballots in the presence of party agents, election observers and the media, in line with IEBC procedures.
Meanwhile, businesses around AC Primary School shut down as youths barricaded roads leading to the polling station, blocking vehicles from entering the area.
17:30 pm : Anti-riot police and water cannons have been deployed at the Ol Kalou Secondary School tallying centre ahead of the parliamentary by-election results. Security has been tightened as counting continues across the constituency, with Kenya Power also installing floodlights to support the night tallying process.
19:00 pm : Murkomen has ordered a probe into reports of hooded armed men causing chaos during the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, saying anyone found responsible will be arrested.
Speaking in Trans Nzoia, the Interior CS warned that those behind the violence will face the law, regardless of who sent them.