Public Service Cabinet Secretary (CS) Geoffrey Ruku has dismissed claims that the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) splashed billions of shillings during the campaign for the recently concluded Ol Kalou by-election.
Speaking on Hot96 radio, Ruku said the President William Ruto-led party spent only about Ksh.100 million, rejecting reports that spending rose to more than Ksh.10 billion through development projects rolled out during the campaign period.
“Even spending Ksh.500 million is impossible. From where I sit I don’t think it was more than Ksh.100 million,” he said.
Ruku added that UDA did not finance the campaign using funds from the national exchequer, but instead drew from its own accounts.
“UDA has money and every party has money. The money which was spent, which I am approximating, was Ksh.100 million is not government money. It belongs to the political party.”
Earlier, Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua alleged that the government spent about Ksh14.5 billion on development projects in Ol Kalou, along with another Ksh1.1 billion on cash campaigns.
“Tumepiga hesabu kwa ile 15 billion, ametapata kura elfu tano,” he said on Sunday, July 19, 2026, during a church service at the St. Thomas Cathedral, Kerugoya, Kenya in the Kirinyaga County, Kenya..
“Tumepiga hesabu kila kura moja imecost William Ruto 3 million pale Ol Kalou,” he said.
CS Ruku at the same time downplayed the significance of Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Kamau Ngotho’s resounding by-election win. He argued that the result does not signal any shift in UDA’s national political dominance, and he cautioned the opposition against reading too much into it as it prepares to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
“I don’t know why people are hyping the results as if it is the only by-election done in the country. Winning one by-election and you are shouting like that chicken that lays one egg and shouts until the entire village knows about it.”
Ruku said he still expects Ruto to secure re-election in 2027 even without support from the Mt Kenya West region. He noted that Ol Kalou previously defied former President Daniel arap Moi during the 1995 by-election, yet Moi still went on to win subsequent national elections.
“The same will happen in 2027. President William Ruto will win resoundingly as we work together with other regions that support him and his deputy, Prof. Kithure Kindiki,” he said.
Ruku added that Ruto’s victory would not depend only on votes from Mt Kenya West. He pointed to the 2013 General Election, when former President Uhuru Kenyatta beat Raila Odinga by about 80,000 votes despite receiving overwhelming support from the Mt Kenya region.
He also urged young people to get national identification cards and register as voters to back Ruto’s bid for a second term.
The Cabinet Secretary further said leaders from the eastern side of the Mt Kenya region would continue serving in government and working with the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“It is the West that has chosen to walk alone. As the East, we will remain in government and chart our way forward,” he said.
Ruku further dismissed the influence of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in the region, insisting that they would not allow him to extend his political reach to eastern Mt Kenya.
