The Inspector-General of the National Police Service, Douglas Kanja, has assured Kenyans that the Ol Kalou Parliamentary by-election scheduled for 16 July 2026 will be conducted in a peaceful and secure environment.

Speaking on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, during a multi-agency security briefing led by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), IG Kanja said more than 1,000 police officers have been deployed to safeguard the electoral process.

“We have over 1,000 police officers deployed to ensure that the by-election is adequately covered,” Kanja said.

Kanja said the officers, drawn from various units including the General Service Unit (GSU), Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), will provide security for voters, election officials, and electoral materials while ensuring a swift response to any incidents that may arise.

“Their work shall be to safeguard the voting materials, the voting process itself, while offering adequate security at each and every polling station, ensuring the electoral officials perform their duties well and unhindered,” he said.

IG Kanja urged residents of Ol Kalou Constituency to exercise their democratic rights peacefully and warned against any attempts to disrupt the voting process.

Meanwhile, the IEBC Chairperson confirmed that preparations for the by-election have been completed. The commission said key activities, including training of election officials, verification of the voter register, and deployment of election materials and technology, have been finalised.

The IEBC also reminded the public that the official campaign period has ended and called on all stakeholders to comply with electoral laws on polling day.

The security briefing brought together key electoral and governance stakeholders, including the IEBC, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), alongside other partner institutions.