By Bonface Mulyungi

Voters in Ol Kalou Constituency, Nyandarua county go to the polls on July 16, to elect their new MP after the poll’s body set the date.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announced the date on Sunday morning, just four days after National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetnag’ula issued writs declaring the seat vacant.

“By-Election for Member of National Assembly for Olkalou Constituency in Nyandarua County will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2026,” IEBC notice reads.

The seat fell vacant following the death of area MP David Kiaraho on March 29 at the Nairobi Hospital, where he was undergoing treatment.

At the same time, IEBC has appointed Anthony Muhia Njiraini as the Returning Officer and Maurine Chepkemoi Kisiero as the Deputy Returning Officer for the Ol Kalou mini-polls.

Each political party intending to participate in the by-elections shall submit the names and specimen signatures of the authorised persons on or before Monday, May 4.

Political parties intending to field candidates are required to submit the names of the aspirants who will participate in their respective primaries and the date of the nominations by May 4 as well.

The ruling UDA party, as well as ex-DP Rigathi Gachagua’s DCP, have each announced that 10 aspirants have shown their interest, with DCP’s allies of Jubilee and PLP announcing their intentions to sponsor candidates.

IEBC as set May 25 and 26 as the days parties and independent candidates shall submit their nomination papers to the Returning Officer as the parties have been given a deadline of May 15 to, after its party primaries resolve all intra-party disputes and submit the list of persons nominated to contest in the exercise.

“New fully registered political parties and those that have revised their membership list post submission of certified list to the Commission and intend to participate in the by- elections are required to submit their certified membership lists on or before Monday, May 4,” IEBC chairman Erastus Ethekon said.

A public officer who intends to contest in the By-Elections shall resign from public office within seven days of the declaration of vacancy, which is today.

The Commission shall publish, in the Kenya Gazette, the names of the persons contesting in a party primary and the date of the party primary within seven days of receipt of the names of the candidates.

Candidates intending to participate in the by-elections as independent candidates shall not have been members of any political party for at least three months immediately before the date of the By-Elections, according to the rules.

Official campaigns will commence on May 25 and end on July 13, 48 hours before the by-election, with the campaign time set to run from 7 am to 6 pm each day during the campaign period.

“Political parties intending to present candidates in the by- elections through indirect nominations shall submit the list of persons nominated to contest in the by-elections to the Commission on or before Friday, May 15.”