President William Ruto has urged Kenyans to remain peaceful and united as the country moves closer to the 2027 General Election, stressing that political competition should never divide the nation.
The President made the remarks a day after the closely watched Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, where the Democratic Congress Party (DCP) secured a commanding victory over the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
DCP candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru won the seat after receiving 35,440 votes, while UDA's Samuel Muchina Nyagah garnered 5,450 votes in the Thursday, July 16 poll.
Speaking on Friday, July 17, during a meeting with leaders from Bungoma at State House, Nairobi, Ruto reminded Kenyans that elections come and go, but the country remains. He cautioned against allowing politics to fuel violence, hatred or divisions among citizens.
According to the President, electoral contests should not be treated as matters of life and death because Kenyans will continue living together regardless of the outcome. He encouraged citizens to preserve national unity and maintain peaceful coexistence beyond the ballot.
Ruto also challenged political leaders to shift their attention from endless political rivalry to improving the lives of ordinary Kenyans. He said the true measure of leadership lies in delivering development and ensuring citizens benefit from government programmes rather than engaging in constant political battles.
He maintained that the country's priority should be creating opportunities and transforming communities across Kenya, regardless of political affiliation.
The Ol Kalou by-election attracted nationwide attention after senior leaders from both DCP and UDA mounted aggressive campaigns in support of their candidates, turning the race into one of the country's most closely followed political contests this year.
Waweru's landslide victory has been seen as a significant boost for former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's DCP, which has been working to strengthen its foothold in the Mt Kenya region.
Political observers are expected to closely watch how the result shapes the region's political landscape, with the outcome likely to give DCP fresh momentum as parties begin positioning themselves for the 2027 General Election.