Chaos erupts in Ol Kalou as residents clash with police over plainclothes officers

Daring youths escort as GSU lorry as it departs after being blocked from accessing St. Joseph’s Catholic Comprehensive School polling station in Ol Kalou. (Photo: Barrack Oduor)

By Lucy Mumbi
Thursday, July 16, 2026

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Live blog: Chaos, blame-games dominate Ol Kalou by-election

Eastleigh Voice Reporter · 47 minutes ago

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Chaos erupts in Ol Kalou as residents protest against plainclothes police officers allegedly attempting to gain entry into polling stations. pic.twitter.com/Arl8zwlEO8

— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) July 16, 2026

The circumstances leading to the confrontation were not immediately clear, and the claims implied by the crowd’s chants could not be independently verified.

Angry residents also intercepted several police officers and forced them to open their bags over claims that they were transporting election materials during the parliamentary by-election.

The confrontation attracted a large crowd as residents demanded to inspect the officers’ belongings, saying they wanted to confirm that no election materials were being moved unlawfully.

In one of the videos, residents are heard accusing the officers of attempting to influence the electoral process, with some shouting, “Wewe ni polisi? Unabribe watu kwa nini?” as they demanded that the officers open their bags.

The officers later opened their bags in the presence of the crowd in an effort to calm the situation.

A unit of anti-riot police officers was also denied entry at a polling station in Ol Kalou and forced to leave after residents protested what they described as an intimidating security presence during the exercise.

The incidents unfolded as voting continued across Ol Kalou under heightened security, with authorities maintaining a heavy presence at polling stations to ensure a peaceful electoral process.

The Ol Kalou Constituency parliamentary seat became vacant following the death of the sitting MP, David Njuguna Kiaraho of Jubilee Party, on March 29, 2026.

The by-election is widely seen as a test of political influence in the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua had raised concerns over alleged attempts to disrupt the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, accusing plainclothes police officers of being a security threat.

Gachagua called on Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to withdraw the officers from Ol Kalou and urged election observers and members of the public to remain vigilant.