Voting is underway in the Ol Kalou Constituency by-election in Nyandarua County, with polling stations opening at 6.00 am on Thursday, July 16, 2026.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) said polling stations will close at 5.00 pm, but voters who are in the queue by the official closing time will still be allowed to cast their ballots.
The commission added that any time lost during polling will be recovered at the close of voting.The by-election is being held to fill the vacant Member of the National Assembly seat following the death of the area MP, David Njuguna Kiaraho of the Jubilee Party, on March 29, 2026.The contest has attracted national attention and is widely viewed as a key test of political influence in the Mt. Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election.As voting got underway, the IEBC reminded voters that the secrecy of the ballot is protected by the Constitution and must be respected throughout the electoral process.“The Commission reiterates that the secrecy of the ballot is a constitutional right guaranteed under Article 38(3)(b) and 81 (e) (i) of the Constitution and is a fundamental principle of democratic elections,” the commission said.The electoral agency warned that photographing or recording a marked ballot paper is prohibited and amounts to an electoral offence.“Any act that compromises this secrecy, including photographing or recording a marked ballot paper, undermines the integrity of the electoral process, exposes voters to undue influence, coercion, and vote-buying, and constitutes an electoral offence,” IEBC said.The commission urged all voters to observe the law and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process as polling continues across the constituency.
Counting is expected to begin immediately after voting closes at 5.00 pm, once all eligible voters who are in the queue have cast their ballots.
