President William Ruto has urged Kenyans to remain united despite political competition, in his first public remarks following the Democratic for Citizen’s Party (DCP) victory in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by election.
Speaking on Friday at State House where he hosted grassroots leaders from Bungoma County, the President said elections should never divide the country, insisting that Kenya’s unity is more important than political contests.
“Elections come and go, but Kenya must remain united,” Ruto said.
His remarks came a day after DCP candidate Sammy Waweru defeated UDA’s candidate in the hotly contested Ol Kalou by election, giving former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s party its first parliamentary seat.
Although Ruto did not directly refer to DCP, Gachagua or the Ol Kalou outcome, his message came as leaders and political observers continued to debate the significance of the result, especially in the Mt Kenya region.
The Ol Kalou race attracted national attention after turning into a fierce battle between UDA and DCP. Both parties deployed senior leaders to campaign for their candidates, with the contest widely seen as an early test of political strength ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Following the announcement of the results, DCP leaders celebrated the victory, describing it as a sign that the party is gaining ground in the Mt Kenya region.
On his part, Ruto urged leaders to put the country’s interests ahead of political differences, saying Kenya’s progress depends on unity and peaceful coexistence.
The President’s remarks also appeared to signal that his administration is looking beyond the outcome of individual elections and remains focused on national development.
With DCP now holding its first parliamentary seat, political attention is expected to shift to how both the ruling UDA party and Gachagua’s outfit position themselves as the race to the 2027 General Election gathers momentum.