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Babytop demands answers after fresh details about men who died in Ol Kalou by-election emerge
18th July, 2026 10:23 PM
Kameme FM presenter Muthoni Wakirumba, popularly known as Babytop, has mourned two Nyandarua men who lost their lives during the recently concluded Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, calling on the government to ensure those responsible are identified and brought to justice.
In an emotional Facebook post on Saturday, July 18, 2026, Babytop identified the two men as James Muigai Mwathi and Zachariah Gakinya Mukora, saying their deaths had plunged the entire Nyandarua community into mourning.
According to the presenter, James Muigai Mwathi was beaten at Mumbi Primary School polling centre. She added that he hailed from Kaimbaga Ward.
“James Muigai Mwathi was beaten at Mumbi Primary polling centre. He hails from Kaimbaga Ward. ZACHARIAH GAKINYA MUKORA – beaten to death right outside Huho-iní polling station, Rurií Ward,” she wrote.
Babytop further stated that Zachariah Gakinya Mukora, a truck driver from Rurii Ward, was beaten to death outside Huho-ini polling station shortly after arriving home to cast his vote.
She said Zachariah had travelled home specifically to participate in the by-election but never got the opportunity to even greet his family before the incident occurred.
“He is a truck driver. He had just arrived home to vote. He did not even get a chance to reach home and greet his family,” she added.
The Kameme FM presenter went on to describe the two men as innocent heroes and sons of Nyandarua whose lives were cut short while exercising their constitutional right to vote.
“We the Nyandarua family are mourning our innocent heroes!! Our sons,” she wrote.
Babytop lamented that the two men had simply woken up on Thursday, July 16, 2026, to exercise their democratic right before tragedy struck.
“The premature death is unfortunate just because our sons woke up to go exercise their democratic right on Thursday, 16th July 2026,” she shared.
She also disclosed burial plans for the two men, stating that James Muigai Mwathi would be buried at the home of one local leader, while Zachariah Gakinya Mukora would be laid to rest at the home of another leader.
Babytop said the decision was intended to send a message to leaders whom residents had entrusted with protecting them.
She questioned why the same leaders had failed to protect the two men despite being elected with that responsibility.
“These are the leaders that we, the Nyandarua people, elected with the mandate to protect us but allowed our sons to be assassinated,” she added.
The presenter further demanded that if leaders could not be held responsible, then authorities should publicly identify those behind the killings.
“If otherwise, name the assassins. Period,” she added.
Babytop directed her message to Interior Cabinet Secretary Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen, President William Ruto, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Senator Methu and Dennis Itumbi, urging them to ensure justice is served.
She concluded her emotional message by bidding farewell to the two men, saying Nyandarua would continue mourning them.
“CC: CS ~Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen H.E. ~William Samoei Ruto H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, EGH Directorate of Criminal Investigations – DCI, Kaba Methu, Dennis Itumbi. Safiri salama jmo &Zac…tutaonana baadae!😭😭😭😭💔😭💔,” she wrote.
The post comes after the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, which was won in a landslide by Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru Ngotho, who defeated United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah.
Videos circulated online showing confrontations around some polling centres, while reports also emerged of attacks on residents, journalists and content creators during the exercise.
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Steve Ireri
Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on the showbiz and human interest stories. Emails: [email protected] , [email protected]
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