NAIROBI, 19 JULY 2026: Amnesty International Kenya strongly condemns the state-sponsored terror, voter suppression, and egregious human rights violations witnessed during the Ol Kalou constituency by-election on 16 July 2026. The deployment of armed, masked gunmen in unmarked vehicles to disrupt democratic processes marks a dangerous regression in Kenya’s constitutional journey.
Just seven days ago, on 12 July 2026, Amnesty International Kenya issued a public warning highlighting widespread voter inducement, campaign violence, and the partisan deployment of public administrators. We called upon the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to intervene decisively to safeguard electoral integrity. Regrettably, our warnings went unheeded, culminating in near-anarchy on polling day.
We are deeply saddened and outraged by the tragic death of 30-year-old James Muigai Mwathi, who succumbed to injuries inflicted during violent attacks involving heavily armed actors. We send our deepest condolences to his family and demand a swift, independent investigation into his killing.
Furthermore, we condemn the calculated and violent assault on the civic space and media freedom. The targeted profiling, beating, and robbery of journalists, including Jafferson Mwangi, Mary Mwathi, Elisha Gatua, Martin Wacera, Caroline Wachira, Enos Teche, Bridgette Ngana, George Kieru, Fiona Akinyi, and Dickson Matakwa, by hooded gangs operating with absolute impunity while uniformed police officers looked on, is completely unacceptable. Freedom of expression and media access are fundamental pillars of a democratic society under Article 34 of the Constitution.
The impunity witnessed at AC Primary School and Ol Kalou Comprehensive School, where masked individuals lobbed teargas canisters and fired live ammunition to disperse voters guarding their ballots, cannot be swept under the carpet as isolated political skirmishes. It points to a deeply worrying level of complicity or failure within local security commands.
Amnesty International Kenya demands the following immediate actions:
- The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) must immediately launch a comprehensive investigation into why police officers failed to protect citizens and journalists, and establish the true identities and commanders of the masked, armed units deployed in Toyota Land Cruisers and SUVs.
- The ODPP and the DCI must track down, arrest, and prosecute all political actors, financiers, and public officials implicated in orchestrating the violence, voter intimidation, and distribution of illicit cash handouts.
- Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen must move beyond rhetoric and provide a transparent, public account of the security failure in Nyandarua County. Accountability must apply equally to all, regardless of rank or political affiliation.
- The IEBC must execute its constitutional mandate to strictly punish political parties and candidates who violated the Electoral Code of Conduct.
The Ol Kalou by-election serves as a grim and alarming precursor to the 2027 General Election. If the government continues to condone the normalization of state terror and electoral violence, public confidence in democratic institutions will completely erode, forcing citizens to defend their right to vote by any means necessary. Kenya’s constitutional right under Article 38 to free, fair, and peaceful elections is non-negotiable.
Signed, George Morara, Executive Director, Amnesty International Kenya
ENDS
Media Contact: Mathias T. Kinyoda Mobile: +254 786 725434 Email: [email protected]