UDA Says It Remains Strong Despite Ol Kalou By-Election Loss

By Violet Kerubo

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has maintained that it remains a strong political party despite losing the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, saying it will continue strengthening its support ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a press briefing at the party headquarters on Friday, UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar thanked the people of Ol Kalou Constituency for turning out in large numbers to participate in the July 16 by-election, describing the exercise as peaceful and democratic.
Omar congratulated Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru on his victory and also praised UDA candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah for what he termed a spirited and competitive campaign.
He said the party would not be discouraged by the defeat, insisting that UDA remains focused on its long-term political agenda.
The Secretary General also thanked UDA supporters, party officials and leaders who coordinated the party’s campaigns in Ol Kalou, saying their commitment demonstrated the party’s resilience.
He commended the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for conducting what he described as a transparent and credible election and thanked residents of Ol Kalou for maintaining peace throughout the voting process.
On development, Omar assured residents of the Mt. Kenya region that President William Ruto would continue implementing ongoing projects and initiate those that had already been planned, regardless of the by-election outcome.
He expressed confidence that President Ruto would secure a second term in office, adding that elections come and go, but the country’s stability and development should remain the priority. He urged Kenyans to remain united, saying both the nation and UDA are resilient.
Responding to criticism over the amount of money reportedly spent during the by-election campaigns, Omar said elections are inherently expensive, arguing that campaign expenditure is part of the electoral process.
He also challenged some of Kenya’s leading media houses to uphold professional journalism by reporting accurately and adhering to the Media Council of Kenya’s code of ethics, accusing some outlets of publishing misleading reports.