How Ol Kalou Victory Made John Methu Nyandarua’s Kingmaker

Sammy Kamau Ngotho may have won the Ol Kalou parliamentary seat, but the biggest political beneficiary of the victory could well be Nyandarua Senator John Methu.

For months, Methu was the face of the campaign on the ground. He led rallies, mobilised supporters, defended the party’s message and transformed what would ordinarily have been a local by-election into a referendum on political influence in Nyandarua and the wider Mt Kenya region.

Now that DCP has won, one message is likely to resonate across the county’s political landscape: John Methu delivers victories.

In politics, leaders are judged not by speeches but by their ability to convert support into votes. By helping secure one of the opposition’s most significant victories against the ruling UDA in Central Kenya, Methu has positioned himself as a political kingmaker in Nyandarua.

Aspiring MPs, MCAs, governors and senators are likely to take notice. Many will seek his support, his endorsement or at the very least avoid being on the wrong side of his political machinery heading into the 2027 General Election.

The victory also strengthens Methu’s standing within former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s political camp. Delivering Ol Kalou gives him considerable leverage not only in county politics but also in discussions about the future direction of Mt Kenya politics.

Politics has a way of elevating those associated with winning teams. Today, many politicians in Nyandarua may be asking a simple question: can they afford to ignore John Methu?

If the Ol Kalou result marks the beginning of a broader political realignment in the county, then Methu may emerge not just as Nyandarua’s senator, but as the county’s most influential political figure — a leader whose support every serious contender will be keen to secure.

The Ol Kalou by-election may have elected a new MP, but it may also have crowned Nyandarua’s new political kingmaker.