Political tensions are beginning to simmer ahead of the July 16 Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election after United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Samuel Muchina reported the vandalism of one of his campaign billboards in Captain Town.
Muchina reported the incident at the Captain Police Patrol Base, where it was recorded as malicious damage under OB No. 05/28/06/2026.
Speaking after filing the report, the UDA candidate said he would also notify the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to enable the electoral body to intervene and help prevent further incidents that could undermine peaceful campaigns.
Muchina urged his political rivals and their supporters to exercise restraint and conduct issue-based campaigns, noting that while elections are temporary, residents of Ol Kalou will continue living together long after the polls.
“We should compete peacefully because after the elections, we shall all remain neighbours,” he said.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening shortly after the final match of the Kaibaga Football Tournament held at Salient Secondary School grounds in Captain Town.
According to Muchina, shortly after he left the venue, a section of the crowd allegedly turned rowdy and pulled down a giant billboard bearing his campaign image.
He claimed that another campaign billboard belonging to his main rival, Sammy Kamau of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), was left untouched during the incident.
The UDA candidate further alleged that the youths involved had been transported to Captain Town in two lorries, adding that the registration numbers of the vehicles had already been handed over to the police to assist with investigations.
Videos circulating on social media show a group of youths pulling down the billboard as onlookers watched.
Muchina noted that similar football tournaments held in the constituency’s other four wards had concluded peacefully without any cases of violence or destruction of campaign materials.
The vandalism is the first publicly reported incident involving campaign materials since campaigns officially intensified for the by-election, which was triggered by the death of Ol Kalou MP David Kiaraho in March.
The incident has raised concerns among local leaders and residents that political intolerance could escalate if not addressed promptly by security agencies and the electoral commission.
The Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election is scheduled for July 16, with candidates intensifying campaigns across the constituency.
