PM Party Nominates Timothy Kamau Kariuki for Ol Kalou Constituency By-Election

 By Gedion Nzyoki - 

• The People’s Renaissance Movement (PM) Party has officially nominated Timothy Kamau Kariuki as its candidate for the upcoming Ol Kalou Constituency by-election scheduled for July 16, 2026, following an internal selection process.
• Party officials described the nomination as a milestone for the young political movement, emphasizing its commitment to youth leadership, transparency, and issue-based politics.
• Speaking after receiving the nomination certificate, Kariuki called for stronger accountability in governance, proposing that elected leaders be held more strictly responsible for fulfilling campaign promises ahead of the contested by-election.

Nairobi, Kenya | May 23, 2026 — The People’s Renaissance Movement (PM) Party has officially unveiled Timothy Kamau Kariuki as its candidate for the upcoming Ol Kalou Constituency By-election scheduled for July 16, 2026.

From left: PM Party Secretary General Emmanuel Sarabai, Ol Kalou Constituency by-election candidate Timothy Kamau Kariuki, and PM National Elections Board Chairperson Carren Moga during the presentation of the nomination certificate for the upcoming Ol Kalou Constituency by-election. (Photo: Courtesy)

Speaking at the party headquarters during the issuance of the nomination certificate, the Party's Chairperson of the National Elections Board, Madam Carren Moga, confirmed that the party had successfully completed its nomination process following a thorough and transparent vetting exercise.

Moga said the exercise was conducted in accordance with the party constitution, electoral laws, and nomination regulations, following the declaration of the parliamentary seat vacancy through Gazette Notice No. 6010 dated April 24, 2026.

“The board undertook this exercise with utmost fairness, transparency, impartiality, and fidelity to the law and the People’s Party democratic process,” Moga said.

She added that the National Elections Board received and reviewed applications from several aspirants before unanimously settling on Timothy Kamau Kariuki as the party’s official candidate for the Ol Kalou parliamentary race.

According to Moga, Kariuki’s nomination marks a major milestone for the PM Party, as he becomes the first candidate to be officially cleared and fielded since the party’s formation. 

She further described the nomination as a demonstration of the party’s commitment to promoting youth leadership and expanding opportunities for young people to actively participate in national governance and representation.

Moga expressed confidence in Kariuki’s leadership potential, noting that the party believes he has the capacity to champion the interests of the people of Ol Kalou Constituency while inspiring other young leaders across the country.

“This certificate is a symbol of the confidence the party has placed in youth leadership and the opportunity given to young people to represent others. Timothy, we are sending you to lead us and to be a guide to all the other young people who are looking up to you,” she added.

She also reaffirmed the party’s commitment to fairness, transparency, democracy, and servant leadership as the campaign period begins ahead of the by-election.

Meanwhile, PM Party Secretary General Emmanuel Sarabai described Kariuki’s unveiling as a historic moment for both the party and the residents of Ol Kalou Constituency, noting that he becomes the first candidate to be fielded since the party’s official registration in April 2026.

Sarabai said the party is committed to promoting youthful, visionary, and people-centered leadership at a time when many Kenyans are grappling with the high cost of living, unemployment, and economic hardship. 

He emphasized that young people should not only be viewed as leaders of the future but also as leaders capable of driving change today.

He added that Kariuki represents a new generation of leadership founded on hard work, unity, development, accountability, and service to the people. According to Sarabai, the candidature signals the PM Party’s emergence as a growing political movement focused on redefining leadership and offering Kenyans a fresh political alternative.

He further urged residents of Ol Kalou Constituency to support Kariuki and join what he described as a new political journey grounded in integrity, vision, and service to the people.

“To the people of Ol Kalou, you now have an opportunity to make history by supporting the first-ever PM candidate, Timothy Kamau Kariuki, and becoming part of a new political journey founded on integrity, vision, and service to the people,” Sarabai said.

He also called on political actors and supporters to maintain peace, respect, and issue-based campaigns throughout the by-election period in order to promote unity and inspire hope among citizens. At the same time, he encouraged the party’s candidate to remain humble, stay close to the people, and continue championing the hopes and aspirations of ordinary Kenyans as the campaign gains momentum.

Speaking after receiving the nomination certificate, Timothy Kamau Kariuki called for a shift in Kenya’s political culture, urging stronger accountability mechanisms to ensure leaders fully implement their campaign promises.

Kariuki argued that political manifestos should go beyond election rhetoric and be made enforceable, ensuring leaders are held accountable for their commitments. He expressed concern that, in many cases, promises made during campaigns and by-elections are repeatedly recycled without being fulfilled.

“After every by-election and general election, manifestos are often recited like poems but rarely implemented. We need to make political manifestos legally binding. Leaders should not make promises to wananchi that they are not prepared to fulfill,” Kariuki said.

He proposed that elected leaders be evaluated based on their performance, suggesting that failure to achieve a significant portion of campaign commitments should attract consequences, including possible restrictions on future electoral participation.

“If elected leaders fail to deliver at least 80 percent of the promises made in their manifestos, there should be mechanisms to hold them accountable, including disqualification from future elections by the IEBC,” he added.

The PM Party candidate emphasized that leadership should be anchored in honesty, responsibility, and service to citizens, adding that public trust can only be restored through tangible results rather than repeated political promises. He further stated that Kenya requires stronger governance systems that ensure leaders remain accountable throughout their term in office, not only during election periods.

Timothy Kamau Kariuki is expected to face off against Samuel Muchina Nyagah of the United Democratic Alliance, Sammy Ngotho of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), who secured 12,957 votes in his party’s nomination exercise held on May 9, 2026, and Wilson Kigwa of the Jubilee Party in a closely contested by-election scheduled for July 16, 2026.