Kipipiri Member of Parliament Wanjiku Muhia has disclosed that the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) compensated each of its polling agents with Ksh8,000 during the recent Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, a sum she claims exceeded payments made by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

In a media interview on July 29, 2026, Muhia revealed that part of the funds used to support the party's campaign were initially raised through a fundraiser intended to pay a fine imposed by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). However, after the High Court suspended the fine, those resources were redirected to bolster the by-election efforts.

“We paid our agents well. Each agent was getting Ksh8,000, which was even more than what UDA paid. They thought we wouldn’t be able to pay our agents, but we paid them well,” Muhia stated.

The DCP candidate, Sammy Kamau Ngotho, won the Ol Kalou by-election and was sworn in on July 28, 2026, in a ceremony attended by senior party officials including Nyandarua Senator John Methu, who is the party’s secretary general-designate alongside Muhia. The officials donned DCP-branded attire as they witnessed Ngotho take his oath of office.

Following the event, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua called on party supporters to conclude the celebrations and focus on upcoming political challenges, emphasizing that while the victory was significant, the work ahead remains crucial.

Political Implications for Mt Kenya Region

Gachagua suggested that the Ol Kalou by-election outcome could signal the political trajectory for Mt Kenya ahead of the 2027 General Election. He pointed to past by-elections in the region that foreshadowed general election results, such as:

  • The 2013 Kangema by-election victory by The National Alliance (TNA), which preceded strong support for former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s party.
  • The Kiambaa by-election where UDA's decisive win preceded President William Ruto’s success in the 2022 general election.

According to Gachagua, DCP’s triumph in Ol Kalou similarly provides an early indication of shifting political dynamics in the Mt Kenya region.