Armed Masked Men Disrupt Ol Kalou By-Election, Sparking Rigging Allegations
Armed and masked individuals disrupted voting at Ol Kalou's AC Primary polling station, using teargas on residents, prompting claims of electoral interference and calls for voter protection.
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Armed and masked men disrupted voting at Ol Kalou’s AC Primary polling station during Wednesday’s by-election, according to multiple reports, as allegations of electoral manipulation and calls for enhanced voter protection emerged.
Witnesses reported that the armed men, some carrying rifles, appeared at the polling station and deployed teargas against residents attempting to vote. The incident, confirmed by Nairobi News, unfolded amid a high voter turnout, with long queues observed at several polling stations across the constituency. At AC Primary, however, the atmosphere shifted from civic engagement to alarm as residents were confronted by the masked individuals.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki—referred to in reports by his pre-inauguration name Gachagua—publicly condemned the incident, alleging a coordinated effort to undermine the electoral process. 'They are carrying rifles and wearing masks, yet the IEBC is silent,' Gachagua stated, referencing the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. His remarks, published by the Daily Nation, underscored growing concern over the commission’s ability to safeguard polling operations.
In a follow-up statement, Gachagua urged Ol Kalou residents to return to polling stations and protect their votes, emphasizing the importance of civic participation despite intimidation. 'Do not be deterred. Your vote is your voice,' he said, according to the Daily Nation.
The Nairobi News reported that at polling stations visited by the Nation, most voters were elderly, highlighting the significance of the by-election as a litmus test for democratic engagement and electoral security. The presence of armed individuals in a polling environment has raised urgent questions about security coordination and the neutrality of electoral spaces.
As of Wednesday evening, the IEBC had not issued a public statement addressing the incident at AC Primary. The by-election is widely seen as a political barometer, and the violence has intensified scrutiny over electoral integrity in Kenya’s upcoming electoral cycles.