Ol Kalou vote turns chaotic as masked, armed men clash with crowds at polling station

The most serious incidents were reported at Ol Kalou Comprehensive School and AC Primary School, where hooded men, some armed and travelling in unmarked vehicles, clashed with youths and attempted to disperse crowds gathered outside polling stations.

At AC Primary School, hooded men engaged youths near the polling station in Ol Kalou town. Witnesses said several teargas canisters were launched from vehicles escorting the group, triggering panic among voters and residents.

Journalist Enos Teche of the Radio Africa Group was injured during the confrontation after armed and hooded men travelling in five Toyota Prado SUVs, escorted by a smaller vehicle, allegedly assaulted him and confiscated his camera as police officers watched outside Ol Kalou Comprehensive School.

The Star journalist Enos Teche was also reported injured after hooded men allegedly fired teargas canisters to disperse a crowd that had blocked the gate to Ol Kalou Comprehensive School.

NTV cameraman George Kieru also reportedly had his camera confiscated during the incident.

Several videos circulating online appeared to show hooded men armed with guns travelling in a Toyota Land Cruiser attempting to disperse voters and onlookers who had exited the polling station. Other videos showed masked men carrying batons chasing and assaulting members of the public amid claims they were attempting to compromise the integrity of the election.

Witnesses said a police Land Cruiser carrying a contingent of officers also forcefully made its way through crowds outside Ol Kalou Comprehensive School, where voters had refused to leave after casting their ballots, saying they wanted to protect the vote.

Earlier in the day, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua accused UDA-allied MPs of scheming with what he termed "rogue police officers" to storm polling stations and disrupt voting in the Ol Kalou by-election.

In a post on X, Gachagua claimed the plan was to storm major polling stations, disrupt voting and stuff ballot boxes, alleging the move had been prompted by a sense of impending defeat.

"Having sensed defeat, UDA-allied MPs are allegedly meeting with rogue police officers to storm major polling stations, disrupt voting, and stuff ballot boxes," he said.

He directed his sharpest words at the Inspector General of Police, whom he accused of failing to act on earlier warnings to withdraw plain-clothes officers from Ol Kalou.

"Bwana IG, I told you that rogue police officers in plain clothes are your weakest link. They are the source of insecurity in the country," he said. "If you are not part of this scheme, you have a duty to order the uniformed police officers to stop them. If you do not, then you are part of the scheme and must take responsibility for any violence that may occur."

Gachagua called on election observers, the media and members of the public to proceed to Huruma, St Joseph and AC Primary School polling stations to document any attempted disruption.

He said the Nyandarua County Security and Intelligence Committee must take full responsibility should any attack occur.

Earlier in the day, Central Regional Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha warned that any vehicle found operating without number plates would be impounded.

"Kila mtu ajue ni hatia kuendesha gari ambalo halina number plates," Nkanatha said. "Maafisa wetu wakipata gari haina plates, hiyo gari itashikwa na iletwe kwa police station."

"Polling station iwachiwe maafisa wa IEBC na wapiga kura. Hawa wageni wengine wakae mbali na polling station, a radius of 400 metres," he added.

His statement came amid claims that hooded and heavily armed men in unmarked vehicles were causing disturbances in several areas where voters had gathered.

Nkanatha also addressed claims by UDA candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah that one of his campaign vehicles was set ablaze overnight while transporting party agents, saying the matter had not yet been formally reported to police.

The by-election was triggered by the death of longtime Ol Kalou MP David Njuguna Kiaraho, who died on March 29 after serving the constituency for more than a decade. Kiaraho was first elected in 2013 before retaining the seat in the 2017 and 2022 General Elections.