By Miraj Guo | 14th May 2026
Tension and violence marked the highly contested Emurua Dikirr parliamentary by-election on Thursday as rival political supporters clashed at several polling stations amid heavy security deployment.
The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Vincent Kibet Rotich accused police officers of voter intimidation and political bias shortly after casting his vote. Rotich claimed security officers deployed to supervise the exercise were instead targeting his supporters and campaign agents.
According to DCP officials, several party agents were denied access to polling stations during the early hours of voting, raising concerns over the credibility of the electoral process. Rotich also faulted police for allegedly failing to arrest individuals involved in violent incidents reported at some voting centres.
The most serious confrontation was reported outside Chelemei Primary School polling station in Kapsasian Ward, where clashes erupted after a group of DCP supporters was allegedly ambushed while heading to vote.
At least one person sustained severe head injuries after being struck with a blunt object and was rushed to Kapkatet Hospital for treatment. The violence occurred moments before United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate David Keter arrived at the polling station to cast his ballot.
Security officers from the Transmara East Sub-County police unit were deployed to contain the unrest and restore calm at the station.
Nakuru County Commissioner Reuben Lotiatia later confirmed that the situation had stabilized and voting resumed under tight security surveillance.
Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Abdi Hassan warned politicians and their supporters against inciting violence, saying authorities would not allow anyone to disrupt the democratic process.
The by-election was called following the death of former area MP Johana Ng’eno in a helicopter crash. The contest has attracted national attention, with political observers viewing it as a major showdown between President William Ruto’s UDA party and Rigathi Gachagua’s DCP.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) said 44,353 registered voters are expected to vote across 94 polling stations in the constituency.
Security remains heightened at the Emurua Dikirr Technical Training Institute, the main tallying centre, as authorities seek to prevent further disturbances during the counting process.
