Gachagua Says Ol Kalou Win Will Shape DCP's 2027 Campaign

The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) says it will use its victory in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election to shape its campaign strategy for the 2027 General Election, with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua outlining plans focused on voter turnout and ballot protection.

Speaking to supporters in Nyandarua County, Gachagua said the party would apply lessons from the by-election, which delivered DCP's first parliamentary seat, to its national campaign. He urged party leaders to make vote protection a key message at every campaign meeting and called for the early recruitment of volunteers to monitor polling stations across the country. 

Under the proposal, hundreds of young supporters would be assigned to polling stations, with the number depending on the size of each polling centre. Gachagua also proposed a phased voting system in which young voters aged 18 to 35 would vote first, followed by women, older people and finally voters aged between 35 and 65.

He said women with children, expectant mothers and voters aged 60 and above should leave after casting their ballots, while younger supporters remain at polling stations until the counting process is complete. "Voting alone is not enough," he said, stressing that protecting the vote would be as important as encouraging turnout.

He further urged supporters to devote election day entirely to voting and monitoring the process. Gachagua suggested limiting meals to breakfast and dinner so that attention remained on the election. He said the strategy would be introduced through public sensitisation meetings across the country as DCP stepped up preparations for the 2027 polls.

Gachagua also defended the celebrations that followed DCP's decisive victory in Ol Kalou. He rejected criticism from Kenya Kwanza allies who argued that the party was placing too much importance on winning a single parliamentary seat. He said the result represented more than one constituency and reflected the views of voters in the Mt Kenya region and across the country. 

"The people of Ol Kalou have proven to this country that dirty money means nothing," he said, adding that voters had shown they could resist state influence and financial inducements.

The by-election was won by DCP candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru, who secured 35,440 votes, while UDA candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah received 5,450. Gachagua said the result challenged the belief that access to government resources guaranteed electoral success. 

He also said the high turnout showed growing public confidence and expressed hope that voter participation in the Mt Kenya region would reach at least 98 percent in 2027. He described the Ol Kalou election as an example of effective voter vigilance and encouraged Kenyans to adopt similar measures in future elections. 

According to Gachagua, the result demonstrated a growing commitment among voters to protecting the integrity of the electoral process. The proposals, particularly the suggested phased voting arrangement, would require consideration within Kenya's constitutional and electoral framework. 

However, the party's focus on early organisation, voter mobilisation and ballot protection reflects its preparations for the next General Election. As preparations for the 2027 polls continue, DCP says it will build its campaign around discipline, high voter turnout and protecting ballots.