By Bonface Mulyungi
The race for the Ol Kalou parliamentary seat is gathering momentum after former MCA Sammy Ngotho clinched the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) ticket ahead of the July 16, 2026 by-election.
Ngotho emerged victorious in the party primaries after garnering 12,957 votes, comfortably defeating his closest challenger Paul Waiganjo, who secured 4,978 votes.
The hotly contested nominations attracted nine aspirants, among them Wakili Kiragu Wathuta and Isaac Ndirangu, underscoring the growing political significance of the by-election in Nyandarua County.
Ngotho, who previously contested the seat on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket during the 2022 General Election, finished second to the late Ol Kalou MP David Njuguna Kiaraho.
Following his victory, Ngotho now heads into the main contest where he is expected to face UDA candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah among other contenders once cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Muchina secured the UDA ticket after edging out nine other aspirants in a tightly contested primary election.According to the ruling party, Muchina garnered 3,221 votes to narrowly beat George Wambugu Kanuri, who received 3,077 votes.
National Elections Board member Jimmy Kahindi presented Muchina with the nomination certificate at Mumbi Primary School following the conclusion of the exercise.
Peter Njoroge Mugo finished third with 1,049 votes, while Mary Nyokabi Kamau garnered 406 votes. Peter Chuchu Njuguna received 158 votes, Maina Kiambati 96, Joseph Ndirangu 90, Ezekiah Kamweru 66, Daniel Ndungu 52 and Stanley Mwangi 43 votes.
“Congratulations, Samuel Muchina Nyagah, on your nomination to carry the UDA flag for the Ol Kalou by-election scheduled for Thursday, 16th July 2026,” UDA said in a statement after the exercise.Muchina previously served as the personal assistant to the late MP David Kiaraho, a factor political observers say could boost his appeal among voters seeking continuity.
The Ol Kalou parliamentary seat officially fell vacant on April 20, 2026 after National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula issued a Gazette Notice declaring the position vacant following Kiaraho’s death.Kiaraho died on March 29, 2026 while undergoing treatment at Nairobi Hospital.
The IEBC has since scheduled the by-election for July 16, setting the stage for what is shaping up to be a high-stakes political battle in the Mt Kenya region.With party primaries now concluded, attention is expected to shift to the main campaigns as UDA seeks to retain the seat against growing opposition pressure from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s DCP party.
Political analysts say the contest is likely to attract national attention, with both camps viewing the mini-poll as a key test of political influence, grassroots mobilisation and voter loyalty in the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The by-election is also expected to provide an early indication of DCP’s strength in the region following Gachagua’s fallout with President William Ruto and his eventual exit from government.
