Rights group warns of systematic assault on democracy as violence, bribery and misuse of state resources threaten to compromise July 16 poll
Amnesty International Kenya has sounded the alarm over what it describes as a systematic assault on democratic rights in the Ol Kalou constituency, demanding urgent investigations into election offences that threaten to undermine the credibility of the upcoming by-election scheduled for July 16.
In a strongly-worded statement released on July 12, the human rights organisation called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to move swiftly and decisively before voters head to the polls.
"Amnesty International Kenya calls on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to urgently investigate and prosecute election offenses undermining the integrity of the Ol Kalou by-election scheduled for 16 July 2026," the organisation stated.
Widespread Voter Bribery and Inducement
According to Amnesty, reports from the ground since the campaign period was announced reveal widespread voter inducement through cash handouts, mattresses, LPG cylinders, and food items.
These practices, the organisation warns, have already compromised the electoral process before polling day has even arrived for many residents.
The rights group insists these are not isolated incidents scattered randomly across Ol Kalou, but rather a deliberate and systematic pattern designed to undermine the constitutional right to free and fair elections.
"These practices are not isolated incidents; they represent a systematic assault on the constitutional right of Kenyans under Article 38 to free, fair, and credible elections," Amnesty stated.
State Projects and Local Administrators Under Scrutiny
Beyond direct cash handouts, Amnesty has raised concerns that state projects are allegedly being timed strategically to sway undecided voters.
Local administrative leaders, including chiefs and local administrators, stand accused of mobilising residents in clear violation of existing electoral laws meant to protect ordinary citizens.
This combination of vote-buying and abuse of administrative authority has created what Amnesty describes as a toxic environment where the will of the people is being systematically undermined.
Violence and Goon Culture on the Rise
Perhaps most alarming is the increasing violence that has crept into the campaign period. Rival supporters have clashed in incidents that have left several people injured and, tragically, others dead across the constituency in recent weeks.
The attack on a campaign truck belonging to the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) in Gilgil on July 11 by armed men has formed the basis of Amnesty's argument that violence has become a fully-fledged attack on democratic participation.
"These attacks not only endanger lives but also undermine the rule of law, casting aspersions on electoral integrity," Amnesty stated.
The organisation warned that such incidents are fuelling a dangerous climate of impunity around the entire by-election process ahead of the crucial July 16 vote.
Calls for Accountability Without Fear or Favour
Amnesty is now pushing for immediate investigations and prosecutions of anyone implicated in bribery or intimidation, regardless of their political standing or office held. This includes sitting Members of Parliament, Cabinet Secretaries, and public officers.
"We want to see the law applied equally to everyone, no matter how powerful they are," Amnesty International Kenya Executive Director George Morara said.
"The people of Ol Kalou deserve to choose their leaders free from coercion, inducement and fear".
The organisation has also called for stricter enforcement of campaign regulations, particularly restrictions on late-night rallies and the destruction of rival campaign materials, which have become common across the constituency in the homestretch of the campaigns.
Postponement Must Remain on the Table
Beyond investigations, Amnesty wants the IEBC to publicly commit to halting the process if conditions remain compromised, insisting that postponement should stay firmly on the table if needed to guarantee credible outcomes for voters.
"Amnesty International Kenya demands public assurances from IEBC that the by-election will not proceed under conditions of violence and corruption, and that postponement remains an option if minimum standards of credibility cannot be guaranteed," the lobby group said.
IEBC's Own Warning
The IEBC itself has previously warned that it could postpone or even cancel the Ol Kalou by-election if insecurity and breaches of the electoral code of conduct persist.
"In the event that, working with the security officials and other stakeholders, we find that the environment is not conducive enough for us to conclude the by-election in Ol Kalou, we will be left with no choice other than to take the most unfortunate and drastic step of postponing the elections in Ol Kalou," IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said. "And if that's not enough, we will cancel it altogether."
However, on Sunday the IEBC said that preparations for the July 16, 2026, Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election are in the final stages, with the training of key election officials largely complete.
Political Reactions and Broader Concerns
The controversy has drawn reactions from across the political spectrum. The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has opposed calls to postpone the by-election, arguing that voters should not be punished for the actions of candidates or political actors.
Instead, LSK wants the IEBC and other enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute individuals found culpable of electoral offences.
"The disenfranchisement of voters should never become the default consequence of misconduct committed by candidates, political actors or public officials," LSK President Charles Kanjama said.
The United Opposition leaders, in a joint statement, also demanded action by the IEBC over the voter bribery allegations, describing what they called a "coordinated government-wide scheme to buy the sovereign right of the voters of Ol Kalou Constituency".
"Ol Kalou voters are being bribed with cash, GOK mattresses, and gas cylinders while state officials campaign using public resources," the opposition leaders said.
"That's bribery under Section 9 of the Electoral Offences Act, and abuse of office under Sections 14 and 15".
A Critical Test for Kenya's Democracy
Amnesty argued that the alleged offences violate the Election Offences Act and undermine Articles 38 and 81 of the Constitution, which guarantee Kenyans the right to free, fair and credible elections conducted without violence, intimidation, corruption or improper influence.
The organisation also called for the protection of journalists, human rights defenders and voters participating in the electoral process, saying accountability in the Ol Kalou by-election will be critical in safeguarding public trust ahead of the 2027 General Election.
With just days remaining before voters head to the polls, the pressure is mounting on state agencies to demonstrate that Kenya's electoral processes can withstand the forces of corruption and violence. Whether the IEBC, ODPP and EACC will act decisively enough to restore confidence in the integrity of the Ol Kalou by-election remains to be seen.
What is clear, however, is that Amnesty International Kenya has drawn a line in the sand. The organisation has made it abundantly clear that it will not remain silent while the democratic rights of Kenyans are systematically undermined.
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