In a Gazette Notice issued on Sunday, the electoral body announced that residents of the Nyandarua County constituency will head to the polls to elect a new Member of the National Assembly following the death of Kiaraho on March 29, 2026, while undergoing treatment at The Nairobi Hospital.
The late Kiaraho had served as Ol Kalou MP since 2013 and was in his third consecutive term in Parliament. His death left a significant political vacuum in a constituency considered strategically important in the Mt Kenya region.
According to IEBC, political parties intending to participate in the mini-poll must submit the names and signatures of their candidates on or before May 4, 2026.
Parties using indirect nominations are required to submit their final names by May 15.
The commission further stated that nomination papers for both political party candidates and independent aspirants will be submitted on May 25 and 26.
Campaigns are expected to officially begin on May 25 and run until July 13, just three days before voters cast their ballots.
In a move likely to spark debate, the IEBC also announced the suspension of voter registration and revision in Ol Kalou Constituency until August 13, 2026, to allow for the smooth conduct of the by-election process.
Any public officer seeking to contest in the by election has been directed to resign from office within seven days of the declaration of the vacancy, in line with electoral laws.
The by-election is already shaping up to be a fierce political battle, with major parties scrambling to identify strong candidates.
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President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance is expected to field a candidate, with more than 10 aspirants reportedly interested in the party ticket.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s newly launched Democracy for Citizens Party is also preparing for the race, with at least nine aspirants reportedly eyeing the party’s nomination.
Political analysts say the Ol Kalou by-election could serve as a litmus test for the growing political rivalry between President Ruto and Gachagua in the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The IEBC is also preparing to conduct another parliamentary by-election in Emurua Dikirr Constituency, as well as ward-level mini-polls in Samburu and Elgeyo Marakwet counties on separate dates.
As the countdown begins, all eyes will now be on Ol Kalou as political parties gear up for what promises to be one of the most closely watched by-elections of the year.
