Sabina Chege Casts Doubt on Rival Political Violence Claims Ahead of High-Stakes Ol Kalou By-Election
Nominated Senator Sabina Chege has questioned the conflicting accounts emerging from recent incidents of political violence in Nyandarua County, saying contradictory narratives from both government and opposition leaders are leaving Kenyans unsure of whom to believe just days before the crucial Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
Speaking during a television interview on Monday, July 13, 2026, Chege condemned political violence regardless of who is responsible, insisting that no leader should justify the disruption of political meetings or the use of hired gangs to intimidate opponents.
“I want to say that we have a generation or a group of politicians who are very enthusiastic and whether it comes from the opposition or the government, I’ll say no one is justified to disrupt or even to engage in goonism as we have seen,” Chege said.
Her remarks come amid heightened political tensions following violent incidents reported in Nyahururu and Ol Kalou, where rival camps have traded accusations over attacks, shootings and intimidation as campaigns draw to a close.
Conflicting Narratives Fuel Public Doubt
Chege argued that repeated claims and counterclaims from political leaders have blurred the line between fact and political messaging, making it increasingly difficult for the public to distinguish the truth.
“But the saddest bit that I’ve seen in the recent past is that we have people who have even managed their own abductions earlier. We have people who have disrupted their own meetings, and so then there’s a lot of this blending, and at the end of the day you ask yourself, who do I trust? Who is speaking the truth? Is it the government or the so-called government or is it the opposition?” she posed.
According to the senator, such conflicting narratives risk eroding public confidence in both political leaders and state institutions at a time when tensions remain high ahead of Thursday’s by-election.
Remarks Follow Kang’ata and Kega Claims
Chege’s comments came a day after Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata claimed his driver had been shot during a Linda Mwananchi rally in Nyahururu on Sunday, July 12.
However, the National Police Service (NPS) later disputed the allegation in an official statement, maintaining that investigations found no evidence of a shooting despite acknowledging violent confrontations during the political gathering.
Fresh controversy emerged on Monday, July 13, when East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) member Kanini Kega alleged that armed men he identified as police officers pursued his convoy after campaign activities in Ol Kalou.
In a video recorded while sheltering inside a house in Oljororok, Kega claimed the officers pointed firearms at him before spraying his vehicle with bullets.
His claims were later echoed by Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina, who alleged that residents and supporters helped rescue Kega from the scene. She further claimed that she and the Kirinyaga senator were later followed by a Subaru vehicle after setting out to assist him.
Chege Questions Details of Kega’s Account
While stressing that she was not present during the incidents and could not independently verify what transpired, Chege nonetheless questioned aspects of Kega’s version of events.
“If it were true, there was some shootout today, and police were after him, does it make sense that you can go into a homestead in Oljororok, or you could speed off and go to Nyahururu or go back to your home in Nyeri, or just speed to a police station?” she asked.
She added that she could not offer firsthand testimony regarding the violence reported in Nyahururu.
“And if I take the example of Nyahururu and what happened, I was not there,” she said.
Appeal for Peace Before the Poll
Despite questioning some of the allegations, Chege maintained that political competition should never descend into violence, regardless of political affiliation.
She urged both government and opposition leaders to exercise restraint and reject the use of violence, warning that continued confrontations and conflicting public statements could undermine confidence in the electoral process.
Her appeal comes as campaigns officially conclude ahead of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election scheduled for Thursday, July 16, 2026, a contest widely viewed as an early political test ahead of the 2027 General Election.
With rival camps continuing to trade accusations over what happened in Nyahururu and Ol Kalou, Chege insisted that all political actors have a responsibility to promote peaceful campaigns and allow voters to make their choices free from fear or intimidation.
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