Voting in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) primaries for the Ol Kalou parliamentary seat on Friday was marked by low turnout, with party officials blaming widespread misinformation among voters.
The exercise, held ahead of the upcoming by-election, drew fewer voters than expected across several polling centres, raising early concerns about mobilisation on the ground.
Officials overseeing the process said confusion among residents played a major role, with claims circulating that taking part in UDA nominations would lock voters out of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) primaries scheduled for Saturday.
UDA dismissed the claims as false, insisting that participation in one party’s nominations does not affect a voter’s ability to take part in another party’s exercise.
“Those are misleading claims. Voting in UDA nominations does not stop anyone from participating in DCP nominations,” party officials said, urging residents to ignore the rumours and engage in the democratic process.
The Ol Kalou seat fell vacant following the death of MP David Kiaraho, setting the stage for a competitive by-election that has already drawn interest from multiple political camps.
UDA, the ruling party, is keen to retain the seat, while DCP, linked to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, is expected to mount a strong challenge.
The low turnout in the UDA primaries now puts pressure on the party to re-energise its base ahead of the main contest, especially as rival parties prepare for their own nominations.
The confusion around voter eligibility highlights the growing intensity of the race, with competing narratives already shaping the ground.
With DCP set to conduct its nominations on Saturday, attention now shifts to whether it will draw a larger turnout, a factor that could signal early momentum in the by-election race.
For now, the Ol Kalou contest is shaping up as more than just a routine by-election, but an early test of political influence and mobilisation on the ground.
