Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of using taxpayer-funded development projects to influence voters, claiming the government only remembers parts of the Mt Kenya region when elections are imminent.
Speaking on Wednesday during a consultative meeting with Westlands constituency leaders at his Wamunyoro residence, the former Deputy President said the sudden rollout of projects in Ol Kalou constituency was intended to boost the electoral prospects of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate ahead of the by-election.
Mr Gachagua argued that development should be planned and implemented equitably across the country rather than being tied to electoral contests.
"The government has suddenly remembered Ol Kalou because there is a by-election. Development funded by taxpayers should not be used as a campaign tool," he said.
The DCP leader claimed the pattern had become increasingly evident in Mt Kenya, where national leaders frequently visit constituencies facing by-elections to launch roads, markets, water projects and other initiatives.
He accused President Ruto of undermining Kenya's democratic culture by linking development to political support, saying such an approach disadvantages areas that are not experiencing elections.
Mr Gachagua's remarks come amid heightened political activity in Ol Kalou, where leaders from both the ruling coalition and the opposition have intensified campaigns ahead of the vote.
The by-election was necessitated by the death of the area's sitting Member of Parliament, with the contest widely seen as a key political test in the Mt Kenya region, where support for President Ruto and Mr Gachagua has increasingly diverged following their political fallout.
His comments also come against the backdrop of a growing public debate over the timing of government development projects. On Tuesday, MP Millie Mabona lamented that some Kenyans were wishing legislators dead after observing that constituencies headed for by-elections appeared to receive increased government attention.
Political analysts have previously noted that governments often intensify development tours during election periods to showcase their performance. Critics, however, argue that using State-funded projects as campaign platforms blurs the line between governance and partisan politics.
The Kenya Kwanza administration has consistently maintained that development projects are implemented according to government plans and budgetary allocations, and has denied accusations of discriminating against regions on political grounds.
The Ol Kalou by-election is expected to be closely watched, with its outcome likely to shape the political contest for influence in the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
