Campaigns end in Ol Kalou as Murkomen assures of tight security ahead of Thursday poll

The push came as Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen assured residents of enhanced security before, during and after the vote.

At the Arboretum grounds in Ol Kalou town, the DCP brigade, led by Nyandarua Senator John Methu, brought the town to a standstill in a final drive to rally support for the party's candidate, Sammy Kamau Ngotho.

Local musicians took to the stage, entertaining supporters and showering the aspirant with praise as the curtain fell on a bruising campaign season.

The leaders who addressed the rally, among them Methu and Kajiado North MP Onesimus Ngogoyo, called for a peaceful election on Thursday.

A few kilometres away, UDA troops were on a mission to paint the constituency yellow, with a team of elected legislators leading the charge for the party's candidate, Samuel Muchina Nyagah. Nyagah is seeking to replace his former boss, the late Ol Kalou MP David Kiaraho.

The UDA team, which has run one of the most expensive campaigns the region has seen, urged voters to make their vote count on election day. Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri and Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru were among those who led the campaign.

The IEBC cleared nine candidates to contest the by-election. Alongside Ngotho and Nyagah, they include Wilson Kigwa of the Jubilee Party, Timothy Kamau of the People's Renaissance Movement, Abdulahi Abdifatah Hussein of the Forward People's Party, Edward Mathenge of Kenya Moja, Rachael Wangui of the People's Democratic Party, Stephen Wanyoike of the National Liberal Party and Edwin Kariiri Muchiri of PNU.

The heightened campaign activity came as Murkomen assured of adequate security during Thursday's poll.

"Tutaweka maaskari hata kama police station itahitaji watu 100 tutaweka pale kwa sababu kuna watu wanataka kuleta vurugu, wablame goons na wablame serikali," the CS said.

Murkomen was speaking at Lokori, Turkana County, during the burial of the late David Kipchirchir Kibiwott, a prison officer.

Meanwhile, six suspects linked to the Nyahururu attack on the Linda Mwananchi rally were arraigned on Monday.