Prominent youth activist and voter mobilization campaigner Allans Ademba was arrested in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County, on Wednesday, sparking reactions online as voting continued in the closely watched parliamentary by-election.
Ademba, popularly known for spearheading the #NikoKadi and later #TukoKadi voter registration campaigns, announced his arrest through a post on his X account shortly after he was reportedly taken into custody.
“I’ve been arrested. Niko Ol Kalau DCI…” Ademba posted, indicating that he had been taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) offices in Ol Kalou.
The activist did not immediately disclose the reasons for his arrest, and authorities had not issued an official statement by the time of publication.
His arrest came just hours after he shared updates from various polling stations in the constituency, where voters were electing a new Member of Parliament following the death of David Njuguna Kiaraho.
Earlier in the morning, Ademba posted photographs and videos showing residents lining up to cast their ballots, including footage from the AC polling station where voting had commenced.
He also made claims regarding voter eligibility, alleging that only voters who had participated in the 2022 General Election were being allowed to vote.
“Ol Kalau residents have turned out in large numbers to vote. NOTE: Only those who voted in 2022 are being allowed to vote. The newly registered voters are not allowed to vote as per the IEBC Rules,” he wrote.
The claims had not been independently verified, and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had not immediately responded to the allegations.
The arrest quickly attracted attention on social media, where supporters demanded an explanation from authorities while others sought clarification on the circumstances leading to his detention.
Ademba rose to national prominence earlier this year after launching the viral #TukoKadi movement, a youth-led campaign encouraging eligible Kenyans to register as voters ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The initiative gained widespread support, particularly among young people, after he organized groups of residents in various parts of the country to visit voter registration centres and acquire voter cards.
In March, Ademba led hundreds of residents from Kasarani to voter registration centres in a move that helped popularize the campaign beyond social media platforms.
Political analysts have described the movement as one of the most visible grassroots voter mobilization efforts by young Kenyans in recent years.
Meanwhile, voting in the Ol Kalou by-election continued under heavy security, with thousands of residents turning out to elect their next parliamentary representative.
The contest is being closely monitored by political observers and party leaders, who view it as a key indicator of political influence in the Mt. Kenya region ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wrapped in heavy jackets, hats and Maasai shukas to shield themselves from the cold morning weather, voters began arriving at polling stations before dawn, with polling officially opening at 6:00 a.m.
Election officials have said voting will continue until 5:00 p.m., with all voters in the queue by closing time allowed to cast their ballots.
As questions continue to surround Ademba’s arrest, human rights groups and election observers are expected to seek clarification from law enforcement agencies regarding the circumstances that led to his detention.
Neither the DCI nor local police had publicly commented on the matter at the time of publication.
