'The writing is on the wall': DCP's Sammy Kamau warns President Ruto after by-election win

Speaking shortly after being declared the winner by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Friday, the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) candidate said the results reflected the electorate's dissatisfaction with the President William Ruto-led administration and signaled what could happen in the 2027 General Election.

"To the national government, I hope you can see that the writing is on the wall... The people of Ol Kalou have spoken. The government is not doing well. People have been saying it and today you have seen it," Kamau said.

He claimed the outcome showed that President William Ruto had suffered a political setback, adding that if future elections are managed in the same manner, the opposition would prevail in the next General Election.

"And as we have been saying, the president today has been whitewashed," said Kamau.

The MP-elect, however, commended the IEBC for conducting what he described as a credible electoral process despite widespread speculation that the by-election would be disrupted.

"The IEBC, you did a very commendable job. We had been told many theories about how there would be infiltration and that results would not be announced, but you rose above all that," he said.

He also praised uniformed police officers deployed during the exercise for maintaining professionalism, saying they handled themselves well despite isolated confrontations.

At the same time, the DCP candidate alleged that armed individuals travelling in unmarked vehicles interfered with the election process and linked them to incidents of violence reported during the poll.

Kamau claimed the individuals appeared to be operating with protection from senior figures within the police service, alleging that regular police officers had been instructed to stand down while the attacks took place.

He further condemned the violence that resulted in the loss of a life, describing it as shameful and calling for those responsible to be brought to justice.

"..we encountered goons that had even more powerful weapons than even the armed officers. Driving around with numberless vehicles. I want to tell them it is very shameful that a life was lost because of your endless manauvers in Ol Kalou. But I know the command must have come from a very seniour person within the police service because the uniformed police, even though they did a commendable job, they had been told to stand down, when you did your crazy job," he said.

The MP-elect also criticized attacks against journalists covering the by-election, saying several media personnel were assaulted while others lost their equipment.

"If there are people we should not touch, it is the media because they keep the public informed," he said, urging media houses to hold accountable leaders linked to attacks on journalists.

Kamau appealed to the Inspector General of Police to investigate the incidents, saying evidence, including recordings, had been collected.

"If you take action, things will go well. If you don't, we will have a banana republic," he warned.

Despite his criticism of the conduct of the election, Kamau extended an olive branch to his competitors, particularly United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Samuel Muchina Nyaga, whom he thanked for conceding defeat.

"My closest opponent, Samuel Muchina Nyaga, it is good that you conceded defeat. I extend a hand to you because you are a brother," he said.

Kamau also invited his former rivals to work with him, saying they had presented valuable ideas during the campaign that could contribute to the development of Ol Kalou Constituency.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared Kamau the winner after he garnered 35,440 votes, defeating United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Samuel Muchina Nyaga, who received 5,450 votes.