Gachagua to lead Ol Kalou thank-you tour after DCP lands first MP

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua will on Friday lead Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leaders on a thank-you tour of Ol Kalou Constituency, after the party secured a landslide victory in the parliamentary by-election.

According to a programme shared by the party leader on Thursday night, Gachagua will be accompanied by Nyandarua Senator John Methu, Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia and newly elected Ol Kalou MP Sammy Kamau as they tour all five wards in the constituency.

The tour will begin at Ndundori Gwa Kiongo at 11am before proceeding to Ngorika at noon, Tumaini at 1pm, Ol Kalou town at 2pm and Miharati town at 3pm.

The visit comes hours after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared Waweru the winner of one of the country's most closely watched by-elections.

Official results showed the DCP candidate garnered more than 35,440 votes to comfortably defeat UDA's Samuel Muchina Nyagah, who received about 5,450 votes.

The victory handed DCP its first parliamentary seat since the party was formed and marked a major political milestone for Gachagua, who personally led the party's campaign in the constituency over the past three months.

Soon after the declaration of results, Gachagua congratulated Waweru and thanked Ol Kalou residents for backing the party.

He described the outcome as a clear expression of the people's will and praised voters for protecting their ballots throughout the election.

"I thank the great people of Ol Kalou for giving our party, DCP, its first Member of the National Assembly," Gachagua said.

He also commended Methu and Woman Representative Wanjiku Muhia for steering what he described as a successful campaign.

Gachagua said the victory had strengthened the party ahead of the 2027 general election, adding that Waweru now joins what he termed a growing team committed to championing the interests of Kenyans.

The Ol Kalou by-election attracted intense political interest, with both DCP and the ruling United Democratic Alliance deploying senior leaders to campaign for their candidates.

Government leaders anchored their campaigns on ongoing development projects in the constituency, while the opposition focused on the high cost of living, economic challenges and calls for political change.

Although polling day was largely peaceful, isolated incidents of violence were reported in parts of Ol Kalou town, including attacks on journalists, drawing condemnation from media organisations, the Media Council of Kenya and the Kenya Union of Journalists.

Waweru's victory is expected to boost Gachagua's political influence in the Mt Kenya region and provide fresh momentum for DCP as political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections continue to take shape.