Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said President William Ruto suffered a humiliating political defeat in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election despite what he described as an unprecedented deployment of state security officers and armed goons to influence the outcome.
The by-election, held this week, was won by opposition-backed candidate George Gachagua of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), who defeated United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Francis Kimani in a contest widely viewed as a key political test for both President Ruto and his former deputy.
According to the official results, George Gachagua garnered 20,615 votes, while Francis Kimani secured 15,892 votes, handing DCP victory by a margin of 4,723 votes.
The election was, however, overshadowed by violence that left two people dead, several others injured and journalists assaulted. Videos circulated online showed armed, hooded men, believed to be police officers, firing from moving vehicles and attacking members of the public, drawing widespread condemnation and raising fresh concerns over the conduct of security agencies during elections.
In a statement issued after the declaration of results, Gachagua claimed the government had unsuccessfully deployed security officers and hired goons to force voters to support the UDA candidate.
"Mr. William Ruto and his homeboys have gone berserk. Totally rejected by the people of Kenya, they have mobilized rogue police officers and goons to terrorize the very people who gave them power," Gachagua said.
He alleged that despite the violence, voters refused to be intimidated and instead defended the integrity of the election.
"During Ol Kalou by-elections this week, Kenyans were horrified as hooded police officers and goons terrorized innocent voters... But it failed flat," he said.
Gachagua further claimed that after alleged attempts to bribe voters failed, those behind the operation resorted to violence and sought to disrupt the counting process.
"When their bribery mission targeting Ol Kalou voters failed, they embarked on causing havoc to disrupt the counting of votes, but the voters occupied the polling stations and barricaded them with their bodies; a human shield," he said.
According to the former deputy president, the determination shown by voters marked a turning point in Kenya's democratic journey.
"This is where we have gotten as a nation, where Kenyans are willing to die to protect their vote and their rights. This is a resolve never seen in the history of Kenya," he said.
Gachagua also alleged that local police commanders had been instructed not to interfere with what he termed a rogue security squad, accusing senior government officials of attempting to portray the election as peaceful despite the reported deaths and injuries.
"It was the highest height of impunity as uniformed police officers watched the rogue officers in utter shock. Local commanders had been instructed not to interfere with the activities of the rogue squad," he alleged.
He further claimed that vehicles used during the attacks belonged to a political figure he identified as Hon. Kawanjiku and called for investigations into those behind the violence.
"He knows the vehicles ferrying the attackers belong to one Hon. Kawanjiku, who was captured on video directing and commanding the attacks. Kenyans are not fools," Gachagua said.
The government has maintained that security agencies acted within the law during the by-election and has rejected claims that state institutions were used to influence the outcome. Authorities have also indicated that investigations into incidents reported during the poll are ongoing.
The Ol Kalou by-election has emerged as one of the most politically significant contests since the 2022 General Election, with the opposition presenting the result as evidence of declining support for President Ruto's administration.
For Gachagua, the outcome carried a broader political message.
"Unfortunately, this regime cannot smell coffee," he said, arguing that despite what he described as intimidation and violence, the Ol Kalou result demonstrated that "the will of the people prevailed."
