By Anderson Ojwang
In groups, they lined, danced and sang for a new windfall and dawn that had arrived. A new chapter was opening up in Ol Kalou, in a region that had been marginalised for decades.
The by-election witnessed a cocktail of attempts to make the residents fishermen through the introduction of boats and fingerlings.
For households where firewood and charcoal were the source of fire, cooking gas, which was previously a preserve for the rich, became a surprise visitor.
Money poured and never stopped raining in the area up to the day of election, where electorates allegedly received fare sent to their phones.
From the usual coins and hundred-shilling notes that formed part and parcel of the residents’ day-to-day economic value, the windfall turned them into overnight village thousand-shilling holders.
Money was never a problem, but how and where to spend became the worry.
New mattresses and foodstuffs became part of daily occurrence in Ol Kalou. The diet changed, and the children happily looked forward to mealtime.
Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi, at a press conference, laughed and joked: “We even distributed shoes to women, and they wore them to go vote against us.”
The free-flowing goodies have never been witnessed in any constituency for a long time, and the by-election will remain etched in Kenya’s history as the most expensive one.
Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Geoffrey Ruku said the UDA party used Sh100 million to provide the goodies to the residents.
The cooking gas
The nauseating charcoal smoke that had formed part of their lives for decades was phased out and overnight replaced with cooking gas, a clean energy.
Principal Secretary for Petroleum Kello Harsama, Principal Secretary for Energy Alex Wachira, and Principal Secretary for Blue Economy Betsy Muthoni oversaw the flagging off of the distribution of subsidised LPG cylinders to 20,000 households across Ol Kalou.
Former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria during the campaigns said there would be no more smoke-filled kitchens and no more cooking with firewood when there was a better option.
“This is real change that families can see and experience every day. For many years, families across Ol Kalou have relied on firewood and charcoal to prepare their meals. For many mothers, cooking has meant spending hours in smoke-filled kitchens, with watery eyes, persistent coughing, and the health risks that come with breathing in smoke every day. For many households, there simply wasn’t an affordable alternative,” he wrote.
Kuria said the people of Ol Kalou were all smiles after the delivery of the gas cylinders.
“The long queues and happy faces show that the people of Ol Kalou know what they want, and they have chosen development over empty criticism,” he wrote.
Railway line: History in the making
After more than 46 years, the Nyahururu–Ol Kalou railway line was back to life and roaring. The forgotten dream was now a reality.
“The return of the train was more than a transport project—it was a symbol of progress, connectivity, and development reaching our people. We witness a historic moment as the Nyahururu–Ol Kalou train service is officially launched,” Kuria wrote.
Dairy farming
The by-election witnessed the clearance of Sh29 million in arrears owed by Ol Kalou Dairy to the farmers. The debt had accumulated over the past three years.
“We distributed milk coolers and farm inputs to boost agriculture and support our farmers across Ol Kalou. We will continue working with all stakeholders to strengthen the dairy sector and create more opportunities for our farmers,” Kuria wrote.
Fisherfolk
Fish came in handy, and Ol Kalou became a new destination with the introduction of fingerlings.
Kuria wrote: “We launched transformative Blue Economy and irrigation programmes that are turning the dam into a source of jobs and income. More than 80 fisherfolk received 15,000 quality fish fingerlings, fish cages, fishing boats, fish feeds, and safety gear to begin commercial fish farming. We also commissioned solar-powered irrigation pumps that will support year-round farming and higher food production.”
Market
The commissioning of the Mirangine Modern Market marked another significant milestone in Ol Kalou and Nyandarua’s development journey – a modern trading hub, a catalyst for economic prosperity, and a clear reflection of promises translated into action.
Poultry
The government also distributed 3,000 day-old chicks across all five wards of Ol Kalou Constituency to help families earn an income, improve food security and grow their livelihoods.
Water
Kuria said nobody will ever campaign in Ol Kalou ever again promising people water.
“We began distribution of water pipes to every household. Total, comprehensive solution. Long-lasting solution. Permanent solution. Because Ol Kalou, Nyandarua, Mt Kenya, and Kenya deserve the best,” he wrote.
Last mile electricity
The government also undertook the Last Mile Electrification Project in Kambi Minyore village, Ol Kalou Constituency, where 96 households were connected to the national grid.
Agriculture
The Mirangine Dam Irrigation Project, when complete, will irrigate 500 acres in two phases, benefit over 1,000 farmers, and support up to three cropping seasons every year.
“We also distributed 20,000 fish fingerlings as part of the wider plan to expand aquaculture,” Kuria wrote.
University
The groundbreaking ceremony for Ol Kalou University was presided over by CS Alice Wahome, another milestone goody.
“A university is more than infrastructure; it is an investment in knowledge, innovation, and the future of generations to come. Today, the foundation was laid not just for buildings, but for a brighter and more prosperous future for the people of Nyandarua,” Kuria said.
Mirage
The historic initiatives, which were viewed as a glimpse of hope, turned into a mirage. The residents enjoyed the windfall but at the ballot retreated back to the cocoon and overwhelmingly voted for the DCP candidate Waweru Ngotho, who won by 35,000 votes against Sammy Muchina of UDA, who got 5,000 votes.
