Ruto accepts Ol Kalou verdict, urges unity after 'bruising' contest

A day after his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) suffered a heavy defeat in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, President William Ruto has urged leaders to work together regardless of political differences.

Ruto said the Ol Kalou electorate had made their choice by electing Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru and called on leaders to focus on delivering services instead of dwelling on political divisions.

Speaking on Friday when he hosted grassroots leaders from Bungoma County led by Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa at State House, Nairobi, the President said elected leaders would ultimately be judged by their performance and ability to improve the lives of citizens.

"Do not allow those who want to divide us along ethnic lines to succeed — those belong to the other side, those who deserve shares and those who do not. That is foolish politics," Ruto said.

"And that is why I ask all leaders, including the MP who was elected yesterday in Ol Kalou, now that we have been elected, let us get to work. Every leader will be judged by their work when the time comes."

Ruto said voters were capable of assessing leaders based on their achievements, vision and plans for the country.

"Citizens are wise; they know. Every leader must have a track record, must have a vision and must have a plan, so that we can all work together to ensure we transform our nation of Kenya," he said.

The President's remarks came a day after Waweru delivered a landslide victory for DCP in a contest that had been touted as a test of political influence in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region.

Waweru secured 35,440 votes, defeating UDA candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah, who received 5,450 votes.

The remaining seven candidates each garnered fewer than 200 votes in an election that recorded a 57 per cent voter turnout across 144 polling stations spread across five wards.

The victory handed DCP its first seat in the National Assembly and strengthened former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's claim to influence in the region.

Gachagua's allies have presented the result as evidence that the former Deputy President remains a powerful political force in Mt Kenya, a region whose support was instrumental in Ruto's victory in the 2022 General Election.

The region delivered about 3.5 million votes to Ruto in 2022, accounting for nearly half of his 7.17 million votes.

Much of that support was linked to his alliance with Gachagua, who served as his running mate.

The two eventually fell out following Gachagua's October 2024 impeachment in a process orchestrated by the same party he served as the second in command, severing ties with Ruto, whom he has sworn to ensure does not win a second term in 2027.

The Ol Kalou outcome has therefore triggered debate over whether Gachagua can translate the victory into broader political momentum ahead of the 2027 General Election.

However, Ruto said political competition should not prevent leaders from working together, urging politicians to avoid divisive rhetoric.

"We should not engage in political hatred, tribalism, tricks or theatrics. Once citizens have made their decision, all of us should move together because our goal as leaders is to ensure development is achieved, Kenya changes, the lives of citizens improve, and our nation moves forward," he said.

The President's message marks an attempt to shift focus from the political rivalry surrounding the Ol Kalou contest to governance and delivery, as parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 election.

UDA allies have maintained that the result should not be viewed as a reflection of the national political landscape, arguing that of the 10 parliamentary and senatorial by-elections held in recent months, DCP has won only the Ol Kalou seat, while UDA secured six victories and its broad-based government partner ODM won three.

The ruling party has argued that the wider results demonstrate that it retains a stronger national presence, despite losing the Ol Kalou contest by a significant margin.