Deputy President Kithure Kindiki Vows to Defeat Rigathi Gachagua in Upcoming Ol Kalou Parliamentary By-Election

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki vows to defeat Rigathi Gachagua in the Ol Kalou by-election, escalating their fight for Mt. Kenya regional supremacy.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 7, 2026, 5:57 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from TUKO.co.ke

A Renewed Rivalry in the Mt. Kenya Region

The political ceasefire between Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and his predecessor, Rigathi Gachagua, appears to have dissolved as the race for the Ol Kalou parliamentary seat intensifies. During a Monday event in Maara Constituency, Kindiki launched a scathing verbal offensive, labeling the leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party as a small minded individual. This confrontation marks a significant departure from Kindiki’s earlier March 2026 pledge to maintain decorum, signaled by his vow to squarely deal with his rival in the upcoming polls.

Historical Grievances and Leadership Track Records

Kindiki’s criticism extended beyond current politics, reaching back to Gachagua’s previous tenure as a district officer. The Deputy President questioned his opponent's integrity during that period, specifically alleging the theft of relief food while in office. By framing the contest as a battle between established track records, Kindiki aims to diminish Gachagua’s standing among voters in Nyandarua, suggesting that his rival’s history makes him unfit for the current political challenge.

The Strategic Stakes of the Ol Kalou Vacancy

The upcoming by-election was triggered by the death of Member of Parliament David Njunguna Kiaraho, who passed away while undergoing treatment in Nairobi. As the opposition announces a united front to contest the mini polls, the Ol Kalou race has transformed into a proxy war for control of the Mt. Kenya region. Kindiki noted that he has already demonstrated his political dominance by defeating Gachagua’s candidates in Mbeere North and in subsequent local ward elections, expressing confidence that the result in Nyandarua will be no different.