The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) are facing renewed scrutiny following reports of violence and electoral misconduct ahead of the July 16 Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
The latest clashes reported in the constituency on Thursday have raised concerns that violence witnessed during recent by-elections could recur in the closely contested race between the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The by-election is expected to be an early test for the IEBC team led by Chairperson Erastus Ethekon, with reported incidents of violence, intimidation and vandalism of campaign materials threatening to dominate the campaign period.
Police in Nyandarua on Thursday night launched a manhunt for a former MCA and a county assembly official following overnight unrest in Ol Kalou.
Campaign materials belonging to both DCP and UDA candidates were also reportedly vandalised.
Following the incidents, authorities directed that political rallies should end by 6 pm.
Nyandarua County Commissioner Abdirisak Jaldesa said security agencies would not tolerate political violence or attempts to intimidate political rivals.
"We have seen in the last few days incidents involving the destruction of government property and threats. We will not allow people, either verbally or physically, to threaten others. Everyone has the right to campaign without being disturbed," Jaldesa said.
He also alleged that rival political camps had used intimidation tactics, including targeting hotels and businesses perceived to be hosting opponents.
"There has been intolerance where parties bring groups to intimidate opponents. We will not allow it," he said.
The reported unrest came a day after DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen exchanged accusations over reports of chaos and gunshots near a hotel where DCP members were meeting.
Gachagua alleged that security officers and state-sponsored groups had attacked his supporters and disrupted party activities.
Murkomen dismissed the allegations.
He warned politicians against incitement during campaigns.
The incidents have renewed debate over the enforcement of the Electoral Code of Conduct ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during the launch of the IEBC Strategic Plan 2025–2029 and the Election Operations Plan 2025–2027, Ethekon said violence and the influence of money were undermining the integrity of elections.
"Fresh from wherever we came from, we were confronted with the challenge of conducting 30 by-elections, and we have learnt something, and that something is sad. The relationship between our politics, violence and money is making our work difficult as IEBC," Ethekon said.
"There is this inclination for politicians to bring in young people, arm them with crude weapons, and feed them during that season to protect their votes. I don't know from whom."
He said the commission had witnessed cases in which politicians mobilised armed youth groups during campaigns and urged security agencies and other stakeholders to help guarantee peaceful elections.
"We can plan everything, this strategic plan can speak of beautiful things, but if the environment within which we hold elections is intoxicated, violent and unbearable, we cannot have an election," he said.
Speaking at the same event, Chief Justice Martha Koome urged the IEBC to fully enforce the Electoral Code of Conduct to curb electoral violence.
"The Supreme Court in the landmark IEBC versus Sabina Chege (2023) has already affirmed the Commission's authority to enforce compliance with the Electoral Code of Conduct, and Kenyans rightly expect accountability for all electoral actors," she said.
Former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri expressed concern over rising political tensions in the constituency and urged leaders to exercise restraint.
"From what I am hearing, we risk shedding blood in Ol Kalou," Ngunjiri said.
“I hear there are people who are having their uniforms tailored in Nairobi and then to be taken there for vote rigging just for one seat. Why don’t you let it go to whichever side wins?” Ngunjiri claimed.
He said the safety of residents should take precedence over political competition.
“It must not shed blood. Was I the president, I would let it go. And now all that effort and money that is being pumped there in the name of empowerment, how I wish it was directed to hospitals? If you buy drugs for people, you would even become more popular than doing these empowerment initiatives,” Ngunjiri said.
