By Anderson Ojwang
In the land of the settlers and the rebels, where marginalisation has been part of life, a new child and king was born last Thursday night.
In the hands of Nyandarua Senator John Methu and the iron lady of Kipipiri, Wanjiku Muhia, the people of Ol Kalou and the opposition had entrusted the pregnancy and safe delivery of the child, Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru.
On Thursday, on the way to the labour ward, ugly scenes marked the journey which threatened the safe delivery, but as fate would have it, no amount of intimidation and harassment could stop the birth of the child whose time had arrived.
The birth of the child marked the beginning of the end of the reign of the old king, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The child – the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) – marked its entry at the Ol Kalou by-election, where celebration and dance broke out in the night and throughout the day.
The announcement
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Friday declared the winner of the by-election, setting the ground and pace for the 2027 presidential elections.
The IEBC Returning Officer, Antony Njiraine, declared Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) duly elected Member of the National Assembly for Ol Kalou Constituency after garnering 35,440 votes.
President William Ruto’s UDA candidate, Mr Samuel Muchina Nyagah, came a poor second with 5,450 votes and lost by a margin of 30,000 votes.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s party, Jubilee, was mauled and carcasses left for the beast after the candidate Wilson Mwaniki Kigwa got a negligible 198 votes, while Timothy Kamau Kariuki (PM) – 51, Edwin Kariiri Muchiri (PNU) – 28, Abdifatah Hussein Abdullahi (FPK) – 19, Edward Mathenge Mwaniki (KMM) – 16, and Rachael Wangui Njoroge (PDP) – 11.
Voter turnout
In Ol Kalou, the registered voters were 73,480, with a voter turnout and votes cast standing at 41,656, marking a 57 percent turnout. This was one of the highest voter turnouts in recent by-elections in the country.
DCP wrote “Congratulations our first born,” as it marked and announced its entry into the country’s political scene, with eyes set on reclaiming Mt Kenya from the grasp of President Ruto.
The party leader, Rigathi Gachagua, marked the victory by sending a warning to President Ruto on the 2027 presidential elections.
“Go tell President William Ruto, you don’t know politics. I will teach you politics next year. You didn’t study politics, and you think you know a lot. Kenyans have now exposed you,” he said.
Gachagua said the opposition will unite against President Ruto in the 2027 general elections and expressed optimism of victory.
“I will unite with other Kenyans – Kalonzo Musyoka, Fred Matiang’i, Eugene Wamalwa, George Natembeya, Martha Karua, JB Muturi, Edwin Sifuna, and Babu Owino. Together, we shall liberate our country,” he said.
Man of the moment
DCP acting Secretary General Methu is the man of the moment and has lived to continue to torment President Ruto in Mt Kenya.
Methu spearheaded the campaigns and, without the support of Gachagua and other opposition leaders, delivered the victory and the first born for DCP.
“My brother, my friend, Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru – Ngotho, congratulations on your very resounding win. The people have spoken, unequivocally so. Go out and serve. You have been the easiest person that I have worked with. Our campaigns were the smoothest because you were so committed. I have no doubt in my mind that the people of Ol Kalou have gotten the best,” he wrote.
Methu thanked the team, including the party leader Gachagua, for the support.
“On behalf of the entire team, we are so grateful to our party leader H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, EGH, for his guidance throughout the entire by-election. We are proud to follow a brilliant leader who has an answer to every political question. To the great people of Ol Kalou, my people, my blood, I am overwhelmed by your love. You promised that mùtikwendia rùrìrì, and indeed, almost to a man, voted to restore the dignity of our community,” he wrote.
He said DCP now has three legislators against UDA’s four in Nyandarua and promised a battle in next year’s general elections.
The iron lady
Wanjiku has emerged as the iron lady of Mt Kenya politics. The radical Kipipiri MP has carved herself a niche and can no longer play a peripheral role in Mt Kenya politics. She is the iron lady of Mt Kenya politics into the future.
“Dear Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru, MP Elect Ol Kalou Constituency, congratulations on your victory! Ol Kalou has spoken loudly and clearly,” she wrote.
Wanjiku attributed the success to God’s favour and that through God, the victory was assured.
“This success belongs to God, demonstrating that He is our Mighty Father; if God says YES, no one can say no. To the people of Ol Kalou, I cannot thank you enough. You are the real Itungatis. The attacks at more than 20 polling stations were an attempt to scare you, but you stood firm against the goons and the guns. Your resolve was unshakable,” she said.
She thanked the team for ensuring and delivering victory against the UDA onslaught and goodies.
“I want to extend special recognition to all our voters, our Gitungati 001, H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, EGH, and our very own Kaba Methu. I also thank Kipipiri constituency for allowing me to be away in support of the community (Ruriri). Thank you all so much for your incredible support,” she wrote.
