Nyandarua Senator John Methu during Democracy for Citizens Party campaign in Ol Kalou/HANDOUT
Nyandarua Senator John Methu has claimed he lost 12kg during the recently concluded Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election,
saying the demanding campaign schedule took a significant toll on his health.
Methu, a key figure in the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), spearheaded campaigns for the party's candidate, Sammy Kamau Ngotho, spending weeks on the ground mobilising support across the constituency ahead of the July 17 poll.
His efforts paid off after Ngotho secured a landslide victory, garnering 35,440 votes to win the parliamentary seat. He was followed by United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Samuel Muchina Nyaga, who received 5,450 votes
Wilson Kigwa of the Jubilee Party finished a distant third with 198 votes, while Stephen Wanyoike Waithaka of the National Liberal Party (NLP) came fourth with 103 votes.
Reflecting on the intense campaign, Methu took to social media to reveal that the hectic schedule had seen him shed 12kg.
"Every crown comes at a price. Wachana na one meal a day na kushinda gym, simama kiti .12 kilos down," Methu wrote.
"(Forget about having one meal a day and staying in the gym all the time, just contest for an elective seat)."
He accompanied the post with a photograph appearing to show him standing on a weighing scale displaying 72.1kg.
Methu was among the most visible faces in the DCP campaign, pitching camp in Ol Kalou for several weeks as he traversed villages, trading centres and public gatherings to drum up support for Ngotho.
His disclosure has drawn attention to the often-overlooked physical demands of electioneering, where politicians endure punishing schedules in a bid to connect with voters.
Election campaigns are often as physically demanding as they are politically challenging.
Candidates routinely spend weeks crisscrossing constituencies from dawn until late into the night, attending rallies, church services, funerals, market meetings and door-to-door campaigns, frequently surviving on little sleep and irregular meals.
The relentless pace can leave even seasoned politicians visibly exhausted and noticeably leaner by the time polls close.
Beyond the physical exertion, campaigns also bring immense emotional and psychological pressure as candidates work to persuade voters, respond to rivals and oversee complex campaign operations.
Long hours on the road, constant public engagements and the uncertainty of electoral contests can take a heavy toll on both physical and mental wellbeing.
It is not uncommon for politicians to joke that contesting an election is the quickest weight-loss programme imaginable.
For many candidates and their campaign teams, even victory comes at a cost. By the end of the campaign trail, they often emerge fatigued, hoarse from delivering countless speeches and drained by weeks of relentless activity.
