Ol Kalou MP-elect Sammy Douglas Waweru Kamau on Tuesday, July 28, chose public transport as he headed to Parliament Buildings in Nairobi to take the oath of office, a move that quickly drew attention online and sparked debate about political symbolism in the wake of his emphatic by-election win.
Photos and videos seen by Bomet Newswire circulating on social media showed the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) legislator boarding a matatu on his way to Parliament.
The images contrasted sharply with the motorcades and security entourages commonly associated with newly elected politicians.
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Kamau’s supporters described the gesture as a sign of humility and a deliberate attempt to remain connected to ordinary wananchi.
How Kamau won the election
Sammy Kamau won the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election in a landslide, defeating nine other candidates in a contest that had become a major political test for both the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the opposition-aligned Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).
According to official results announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Kamau garnered 35,440 votes, while UDA candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah received 5,450 votes.
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The huge margin of victory immediately made the race one of the most talked-about by-elections in the country.
The seat fell vacant following the death of former Ol Kalou MP David Kiaraho, prompting a fiercely contested campaign that drew senior national political leaders to Nyandarua County.
Kamau’s campaign was heavily backed by leaders associated with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, including Nyandarua Senator John Methu and Woman Representative Wanjiku Muhia.
The DCP team framed the election as a referendum on the political direction of the Mt Kenya region and focused its messaging on economic hardship, unemployment, and what it called the need to protect the region’s political voice.
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On the other hand, UDA mobilized senior government officials and party leaders in an attempt to retain the seat for President William Ruto’s camp.
The contest therefore evolved from a local constituency race into a high-stakes national political showdown.
His victory also handed DCP its first parliamentary seat since the party was formed, giving the opposition outfit a symbolic breakthrough in the Mt Kenya region.
Following the declaration of results, Kamau described the win as a victory for the people of Ol Kalou and promised to serve all residents regardless of their political affiliation.
