Gachagua, Murkomen trade barbs in Ol Kalou campaign
Politics
By
Prestone Murunga
| Jul 03, 2026
Murkomen and Gachagua clash over alleged Ol Kalou campaign violence. [File, Standard]
A political storm erupted following an incident at the Royal Gardens Hotel in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County, on Tuesday night, where leaders allied to the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) claimed they were attacked during a delegates' and stakeholders' meeting.
Former Deputy President and DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua blamed the government, alleging that security officers and state-sponsored groups were responsible for the attacks.
He also posted on his X account that several people campaigning for the party's candidate had been assaulted and arrested on the night of July 1, 2026.
READ MORE
KeNHA urges courts to crack down on overloaded trucks
Kenya's AGOA test as Trump reviews Ruto's governance record
State flags falling telcos' service quality
Nyeri onion trading hub to get enhanced water supply
Kenya's courier sector races to keep pace with e-commerce boom
Data theft equals property theft, PS Isaboke warns marketers
Broke Treasury eyeing Sh244 billion in Safaricom sale deal
Nairobi onboards blue-chip firms in race for financial hub status
More youth embrace AI, digital skills training as creative economy grows
Artists' royalties hit as KECOBO suspends music producers' license
"They arrived three hours ago and started abducting and indiscriminately beating DCP campaigners. Our teams are being held at the hotel by brutal police officers and state-sponsored militia. Goons are currently breaking into the hotel," Gachagua said in a statement.
The former Deputy President further alleged that Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had dispatched what he described as a "Nairobi Sierra killer squad" to interfere with his party's activities in the area.
Murkomen, however, strongly rejected the allegations, dismissing them as politically motivated and cautioning against incitement during the by-election campaigns.
"Mr Rigathi Gachagua, we know your gimmicks and juvenile attempts at reverse psychology. Try violence in Ol Kalou, and you will see. To anyone being recruited into violence by Mr Gachagua, keep off because the consequences will be dire," Murkomen said.
The exchange came amid reports that gunshots were heard near the hotel, although the circumstances surrounding the incident had not been independently verified at the time of publication.
Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi also disputed Gachagua's account, saying he had left the venue shortly before the confrontation occurred.
According to Wamumbi, individuals linked to Gachagua's camp, including a former aide to the Deputy President and other associates, allegedly stormed the meeting and attacked women leaders, including Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) and a female member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
Wamumbi accused Gachagua's team of orchestrating the chaos to disrupt political activities associated with rival camps and called on the former Deputy President to embrace peaceful campaigning.
"He should abandon the politics of chaos and focus on campaigning for his preferred candidates through lawful and democratic means," Wamumbi said.
The competing claims by the two political camps remain unverified, and no official findings from investigators had been released by the time of publication.
The incident has heightened tensions in Ol Kalou as political leaders intensify campaigns ahead of the upcoming by-election, raising concerns that violence could overshadow the democratic process.
By the time of going to press, police had neither stated the violence nor announced any arrests in connection with the chaos.
The by-election, scheduled for July 16, 2026, has attracted two main candidates: Sammy Kamau Ngotho of the DCP and Samuel Muchina Nyagah of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The UDA campaign team is being led by former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, while the DCP campaign is under the stewardship of Nyandarua Senator John Methu, who also serves as the party's Secretary-General.