By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, July 15, 2026 - The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of attempting to undermine public confidence in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, dismissing his claims of planned electoral fraud as baseless and unsupported by evidence.
The ruling party urged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to proceed with Thursday's poll professionally and resist what it described as political pressure and "manufactured crisis".
The dispute follows an eight-page letter by Gachagua to IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon, in which he alleged that senior Kenya Kwanza officials were bribing voters and plotting to interfere with polling, vote counting, security operations and voter identification.
In a separate letter to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Gachagua also questioned the deployment of security officers to the constituency, alleging intimidation of his party's supporters.
Responding on Wednesday, UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar rejected the allegations, saying Gachagua had failed to provide any credible evidence to support his claims.
"Where it exists, admissible evidence of bribery or undue influence should be addressed through lawful structures, not by a scattergun letter to the IEBC," UDA said.
The party also defended the electoral commission against accusations that it could manipulate the outcome of the by-election, saying election officials carry out their work under close scrutiny from party agents and independent observers.
"The suggestion that the IEBC would collude in disenfranchising young voters or rigging KIEMS tallies is not only baseless but an insult to the patriotic election officials who conduct these exercises under intense scrutiny from party agents and observers of all persuasions," the party stated.
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UDA further dismissed claims that Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries were campaigning or bribing voters in the constituency, insisting that no evidence had been presented to substantiate the accusations.
The party also defended the heavy security deployment ahead of the poll, saying the deployment of police officers is solely the responsibility of the National Police Service under the Inspector General.
It accused Gachagua of applying double standards by raising concerns over election violence while remaining silent on alleged misconduct by some of his political allies.
As campaigns draw to a close, UDA called on the IEBC to remain independent and conduct a credible election despite the political contest surrounding the vote.
"We urge the IEBC to conduct the Ol Kalou Constituency by-election professionally, transparently and in accordance with the law, without acquiescing to blackmail, ultimatums, theatrics or the politics of manufactured crisis," the party said.
The Ol Kalou by-election will be held on Thursday, with voters expected to elect a new Member of the National Assembly amid heightened political rivalry and increased security across the constituency.