NAIROBI, 12 JULY 2026: Amnesty International Kenya calls on 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 urgently investigate and prosecute election offenses undermining the integrity of the Ol Kalou by-election scheduled for 16 July 2026.
Kenya’s Election Offenses Act prohibits bribery, intimidation, misuse of public resources, and the involvement of public officers in partisan campaigns. Yet reports from Ol Kalou reveal widespread voter inducement through cash handouts, mattresses, LPG cylinders, and food items; misuse of government projects timed to sway voters; violent clashes between rival supporters, resulting in injuries and deaths; and allegations that chiefs and administrators are mobilizing voters in violation of the law.
These practices are not isolated incidents; they represent a systematic assault on the constitutional right of Kenyans under Article 38 to free, fair, and credible elections. They also contravene Article 81 of the Constitution, which demands elections be conducted free from violence, intimidation, improper influence, and corruption.
Amnesty International Kenya is further alarmed by the July 11, 2026, attack on a campaign truck belonging to the Democracy for the Citizens (DCP) Party in Gilgil by hooded, gun-toting goons. Such brazen acts of violence against political opponents participating in a legitimate, democratic exercise of campaigning highlight the growing climate of impunity and insecurity surrounding the Ol Kalou by-election campaigns. These attacks not only endanger lives but also undermine the rule of law, casting aspersions on electoral integrity.
The people of Ol Kalou deserve to choose their leaders free from coercion, inducement, and fear.
Amnesty International Kenya demands:
- Immediate investigations and prosecutions of all individuals, including Members of Parliament, Cabinet Secretaries, and public officers, implicated in bribery, intimidation, and misuse of state resources.
- Enforcement of campaign regulations, including restrictions on late-night rallies and destruction of campaign materials.
- Public assurances from IEBC that the by-election will not proceed under conditions of violence and corruption, and that postponement remains an option if minimum standards of credibility cannot be guaranteed.
- Protection of journalists, human rights defenders, and voters exercising their constitutional rights to participate in promoting and protecting Article 38 Rights of the Constitution.
Kenya cannot afford to normalize electoral malpractice. The credibility of the 2027 General Election begins with accountability in Ol Kalou. The State, together with all players in the political and electoral system, must act now to restore public trust and safeguard democracy.
Signed, George Morara, Executive Director, Amnesty International Kenya
ENDS
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