Leaders call for peace as Ol Kalou campaigns enter homestretch

It is less than 36 hours before the campaign period comes to a close in Ol-Kalou Constituency, Nyandarua County.

Candidates vying in the upcoming by-election on Sunday took time off the campaign trail to attend church services and seek divine intervention ahead of the poll.

Several leaders whose candidates are taking part in Thursday’s Ol-Kalou by-election have called for peace, a day after chaos erupted in the area when a DCP truck was attacked during campaign activities.

Speaking in Ol-Kalou, the leaders urged residents to maintain calm and ensure a free, fair, and peaceful election as they campaigned for their respective candidates.

The clergy urged political actors and supporters to embrace peace and tolerance, hours after a fresh incident of election-related violence was reported in the area.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has completed training its election officials in the constituency ahead of Thursday’s polls.

"The fruits that we are waiting for are the fruits of peace among us. We pray that this seed of peace is going to say no to violence. This seed of peace is going to respect the democratic choice of the people of Ol-Kalou, and say no to the weaponization of our young people,” said Bishop Onesmus Kamau.

The leaders—including the DCP’s brigade led by Nyandarua Senator John Methu, UDA’s led by Nyandarua Woman Rep Faith Gitau, and the People’s Renaissance Movement PRM party captained by Saboti MP Caleb Amisi—also pledged to maintain peace.

"No one in our party has been given directions to organize any youth groups. As a party, we trust our security,” said Methu.

"Let us have faith and let us have peace while doing everything that we are doing, because it will all end on the 16th. On the 17th, we will be left to live together as Ol-Kalou. Therefore, we do not want war,” added Gitau.

On his part, Saboti MP Caleb Amisi condemned violence in the area.  

“You do not need to fight your neighbour. Even for me, if they say people should fight so that my candidate can get in, I will say no,” noted Amisis.

The leaders also drummed up support for their candidates as time ticks towards Thursday.

"Let the people choose their Member of Parliament, and if it were up to me, I would say the vote should go to Sammy Kamau Douglas Waweru,” said Methu.

"This young man has been with the Honorable Kiaraho for 13 years. Therefore, he knows the vision that Kiaraho had. He is the one who intimately understands what Kiaraho wanted,” Gitau drummed up support for UDA candidate.

Amisi further warned politicians against zoning regions. “Claiming that a certain region belongs to a specific party. Even for me in Saboti, I want a DCP candidate and a UDA candidate.”

This comes as the IEBC concluded the training of presiding officers and deputy presiding officers ahead of the poll—a move that signals the election is likely to proceed.

IEBC chairperson Errastus Ethekon had earlier threatened to postpone or cancel the exercise over incidents of violence.