Gachagua Raises Alarm Over Ol Kalou By-Election Security, Accuses State of Using Police to Influence Vote

Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has written a strongly worded letter to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, raising concerns over the deployment of security personnel ahead of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election and alleging that sections of the police service are being used to interfere with the electoral process.

In the four-page letter dated July 15, 2026, Gachagua claims the deployment of more than 2,000 police officers to Ol Kalou Constituency is unprecedented and raises questions about the intentions behind the heavy security presence.

The former Deputy President argues that while maintaining peace during elections is the responsibility of the National Police Service, the scale and manner of the deployment could undermine public confidence in the credibility of the by-election.

"The deployment of over 2,000 police officers in Ol Kalou is unprecedented in the history of elections in our country," Gachagua states in the letter.

He further alleges that some police officers operating in plain clothes have been involved in acts of intimidation against members and supporters of his party during the campaign period.

According to Gachagua, several incidents have occurred in the run-up to the by-election, including alleged attacks on DCP officials, disruption of campaign activities and damage to campaign equipment.

Among the incidents cited is an alleged assault on DCP officials at a hotel in Ol Kalou on July 1, where he claims party members were beaten and some of their belongings, including a mobile phone, were taken.

He also alleges that on July 9, members of the party's campaign team were sprayed with pepper spray by individuals he describes as plain-clothes police officers travelling in unmarked vehicles.

In the letter, Gachagua further refers to an incident in which a DCP campaign sound system was allegedly attacked and damaged on July 11, as well as an alleged attempted attack on East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member Kanini Kega on July 13.

The DCP leader claims no action has been taken against those allegedly responsible for the reported incidents.

Gachagua also accuses unnamed political leaders and senior government officials of influencing police operations during the by-election, alleging that some officers are acting outside the command structure of the Inspector General.

He further claims that certain officers deployed to Ol Kalou have been instructed to disrupt voting, intimidate election agents and interfere with the tallying process—allegations for which he does not provide supporting evidence in the letter.

The letter urges the Inspector General to ensure that all officers deployed during the by-election operate in uniform, display their service numbers and use clearly marked police vehicles to enhance transparency and accountability.

Gachagua also calls for the withdrawal of all plain-clothes officers from election duties, arguing that their presence creates fear among voters and political actors.

He appealed to the police to remain neutral and uphold their constitutional mandate of maintaining peace and protecting all Kenyans regardless of political affiliation.

"If the 2,000 police officers will not be able to maintain peace in Ol Kalou, then you will lose it all. Let the police not cause violence; let the police keep peace, law and order," he states.

The DCP leader also cites provisions of the Election Offences Act, warning against the use of national security agencies to influence electoral outcomes. He argues that any misuse of state security organs during an election would amount to a violation of electoral law.

The Ol Kalou by-election has attracted significant political attention, with major political parties viewing the contest as a key test of their support ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The National Police Service has previously stated that security deployments during elections are intended to safeguard voters, election officials and polling materials, and to ensure a peaceful voting process.

As of the time of publication, the Inspector General of Police had not publicly responded to the allegations contained in Gachagua's letter. Likewise, the claims made in the letter had not been independently verified.

The by-election is expected to be closely watched by political observers, with attention focused on both the conduct of the poll and the role of security agencies in ensuring a peaceful and credible electoral process.