Opposition cries foul as Ruto deploys state machinery in Ol Kalou

The opposition has stepped up accusations against President William Ruto, claiming he is deploying the full machinery of government to help UDA win the Ol Kalou by-election.

 Gatanga MP Edward Muriu, an ally of DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua, has accused Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries of turning official government programmes into campaign platforms.

 Muriu said state officials are appearing alongside UDA candidate Samuel Muchina Nyaga and branding taxpayer-funded projects with political messaging.

 "The Cabinet Secretaries have now become shameless. They are putting their faces, those of PSs and that of the candidate on government programmes. They are issuing title deeds and building markets using public resources to galvanise support for the UDA candidate. If that is not malpractice, what is it?" Muriu said.

 The parliamentary by-election is scheduled for July 16.

 Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru, who is allied to the united opposition, has also asked the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to summon Cabinet Secretaries Alice Wahome (Lands), William Kabogo (ICT), Rebecca Miano (Tourism) and Davis Chirchir (Roads), as well as Lands Principal Secretary Nixon Korir, over the alleged misuse of public resources during the campaigns.

 The complaint follows public endorsements of the UDA candidate by some government officials during official project launches.

 Miano, who hails from the region, on Friday endorsed Muchina, saying; "Nyandarua county stands firmly behind Samuel Muchina Nyaga, whose development-first vision ensures Ol Kalou stays directly plugged into the national government's transformation agenda and aligned with national priorities."

 Over the past two weeks, CSs, PSs and former presidential adviser Moses Kuria have commissioned projects worth billions of shillings in Ol Kalou as part of an intensive government development drive.

 The launches have also frequently been attended by Muchina, fuelling opposition claims that official government programmes are being used to boost his candidature.

 The law does not prohibit Cabinet Secretaries from engaging in politics, performing official duties during election periods or commissioning government-funded projects.

 However, the constitution, the Leadership and Integrity Act and the Public Officer Ethics Act prohibit public officers from improperly using state resources or their offices to confer an unfair political advantage.

 Various projects and programmes have been launched in the constituency in the final stages of the campaign.

 Chirchir, accompanied by Miano, on Friday launched the upgrading to bitumen standards of the 23-kilometre Kwa Haraka-Kageraini-Rwanyambo-Karangatha-Kinamba Road and the 37-kilometre Ithagani-Ngorika-Mbaruk/Kanyiriri Road.

 The two Cabinet Secretaries also inspected ongoing works on the Ndaragwa-Kanyagia-Subuku and Maili Kumi-Subuku-Shamata roads.

 "Today was another clear demonstration that the Kenya Kwanza government is delivering on its promise to connect, transform and grow our nation through infrastructure," Chirchir said.

 Wahome launched the Ol Kalou Affordable Housing Project, commissioned a modern market expected to benefit hundreds of traders and presided over the issuance of title deeds alongside Miano.

 The government has also launched Nyandarua University and commissioned hostels at Ol Kalou Technical and Vocational College.

 Kabogo has also joined the development drive by commissioning digital hubs in Wiyumiririe, Passenga and Mirangine, saying they would expand Internet access, digital literacy and employment opportunities for young people.

 Government officials have consistently framed the projects as the fulfilment of the Kenya Kwanza administration's development agenda.

 However, the concentration of high-profile government activity in Ol Kalou ahead of the by-election has reignited debate over the use of public resources during election campaigns.

 Opposition leaders led by Gachagua argue that the development push is designed to influence voters.

 Gachagua has linked the Ol Kalou campaign to the 2025-26 Supplementary Budget, alleging that additional allocations to State House, the Office of the Deputy President, the State Department for Internal Security and the NIS would bankroll political activities.

 "The money to be drawn in cash through votes disguised as maintenance and operations, other operating expenses and security operations... is money for bribing voters, paying goons, buying MPs and Senators, counter-productive empowerment programmes and the Ol Kalou by-election," he alleged.

 Nyandarua Senator John Methu, who is leading the DCP campaign in the constituency, has similarly described the government's development blitz as an attempt to sway the electorate using state-funded projects.