From mattresses to gas cylinders and electricity: How UDA is deploying Mbeere North script in Ol-Kalou

Residents of Ol Kalou town receive goodies donated by the government ahead of the July 16 by-election in Ol Kalou constituency. [James Munyeki, Standard]

Campaigns have hit high gear in Ol Kalou constituency Nyandarua county, with only six days remaining before the official campaign period for the high stakes by election comes to an end.

Even as polling day approaches, the campaigns that have dotted the constituency from the United Democratic Alliance UDA party, have been a replica of those witnessed in November last year during the Mbeere North by-election.

One striking similarity is the unprecedented development projects that have been launched, inspected or completed in the area with the only difference being that the scale of the projects has been more grand than in Mbeere.

Government has done last mile electricity connections in a number of places including Mathakwa and Nduba villages with Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira on-site to oversee this. Similarly, the road network in Ol-Kalou is undergoing a shift with several roads being upgraded or tarmacked.

The revival of the Nairobi-Gilgil-Ol-Kalou-Nyahururu railway line has also come during these campaigns after years of not being in operation.

Traders in Ol-Kalou have also received a major boost after the Mirangine modern market was commissioned.

Additionally, the groundbreaking for the Nyandarua University was also done, distribution of LPG filled gas cylinders at a subsidized price of Sh1500 and Nyandarua land registry has also been opened in the constituency.

Secondly, State officials have also been a major fixture for UDA campaigns just like in Mbeere where Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku led campaigns.

Government leaders from the Mt Kenya region have toured Ol-Kalou to assist in campaigns.

Residents of Ol Kalou town receive goodies donated by the government ahead of the July 16 by-election in Ol Kalou constituency. [James Munyeki, Standard]

From Cabinet Secretaries Alice Wahome, Rebecca Miano and William Kabogo to Principal Secretaries Alex Wachira, Betsy Njagi, Caroline Karugu and even the Head of Presidential Special projects Dennis Itumbi.

Additionally, senior leaders including Governors Cecily Mbarire, Susan Kihika alongside other Members of Parliament from the region have assisted UDA’s candidate Sammy Muchina campaign.

Similarly also, State officials have been deployed almost permanently. Itumbi for instance who camped in Mbeere North is doing the same in Ol-Kalou.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano who comes from Nyandarua has also spent a significant amount of days in the area over the last few weeks.

On 3rd July last week, Moses Kuria corrected DCP Party leader Rigathi Gachagua who had claimed that the President was spending Sh1 billion in Ol-Kalou, saying that they were spending over Sh10 billion, which demonstrates the amount of State resources deployed.

The verdict of whether this same script works like in Mbeere North will be out on 16th July when the people of Ol-Kalou go to the ballot.