NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 17- Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has declared the outcome of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election the beginning of the end of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in the Mt Kenya region, urging voters to reject all serving UDA lawmakers ahead of the 2027 General Election.

📻 Breaking It Down

Addressing supporters after the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Kamau Waweru won the hotly contested by-election, Gachagua described the victory as a historic political turning point that signaled a dramatic shift in the region’s political allegiance.

“For the avoidance of doubt, this by-election marks the death of UDA in this region,” Gachagua declared.

He argued that the victory demonstrated that President William Ruto had lost the confidence of Mt Kenya voters despite deploying senior government officials, rolling out development projects and campaigning extensively in the constituency.

📌 What You Need to Know

According to Gachagua, the Ol Kalou contest was more than a parliamentary race, saying it served as a “dress rehearsal” for the 2027 General Election.

He claimed the electorate had rejected what he termed attempts to influence the outcome through state resources, money and intimidation.

“The people of Ol Kalou have shown that money, violence and state machinery cannot alter the will of determined voters,” he said.

Gachagua further urged Mt Kenya residents to vote out UDA leaders, arguing that the party no longer represented the region’s interests.

He claimed President Ruto was already plotting to introduce new political vehicles and proxy candidates in the region after allegedly realising that the UDA brand had become unpopular.

“We know he intends to introduce different coloured wheelbarrows because his allies know they cannot survive under the UDA banner. We also know he will sponsor presidential candidates in the mountain to divide our vote, but the people are no longer easy to deceive,” he said.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya