‘Niko Kadi’ Activist Allans Ademba Arrested at Ol Kalou By-Election

Popular youth activist and mobilizer Allans Ademba was arrested in Ol Kalou in Nyandarua County on Thursday, July 16, when he disclosed that he had been arrested by the police while at the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.

This follows the current political tensions regarding the by-election, which is drawing nationwide attention, being an event ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

The youth icon who has gained a lot of fame through the viral ‘Niko Kadi’ voter registration campaign announced his arrest in a brief posting on his X platform.

“I’ve been arrested. Niko Ol Kalou DCI,” Ademba wrote.

Not much information has been provided yet as to why he was arrested and whether any charges have been made against him.

It is only said that he has been moved to the DCI station in Ol Kalou.

Allans Ademba Arrest After Allegations of Voting Irregularities

Prior to his arrest, Ademba was reporting on the happenings at different polling stations in Ol Kalou.

According to him, through posts made via social media, he noted that there had been complaints that only those who voted during the 2022 General Elections could vote in the ongoing by-election.

He provided pictures which showed that he was present in the constituency, as he posed queries about these alleged irregularities in the voting process.

However, it is noteworthy that the IEBC, up until the time he was arrested, had not reacted to these allegations, whose authenticity is yet to be determined.

Also Read:Samuel Kamau Ngotho: Everything to Know About Gachagua’s DCP Candidate in Ol Kalou

The Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election came as a result of the death of the Member of Parliament for the region, David Kiaraho.

This by-election has attracted keen attention from political parties and even national personalities due to its strategic importance.

Emergence of ‘Niko Kadi’ Mobiliser

The youth mobiliser emerged nationally this year when he spearheaded the bottom-up movement ‘Niko Kadi’ together with other youth activists.

The ‘Niko Kadi’ mobilisation drive aimed at encouraging young Kenyans to register as voters ahead of the General Elections scheduled for 2027 and gained momentum online.

Thousands of youths shared the campaign motto through various social media platforms as they registered to vote.

In April this year, Senator Edwin Sifuna of Nairobi County made a public appeal for the recognition of Ademba through a national award due to the impact of his voter registration campaign on youth.

Apart from advocating for the registration of voters, Ademba has continued to speak out on matters of governance and youths’ involvement in national affairs.

In recent times, he has been insisting that the ‘Niko Kadi’ campaign remains independent and not to be associated with politicians as it mainly aims at encouraging citizens to participate democratically.

He has also indicated his intention of getting into elective politics prior to the 2027 General Election.

Also Read:Too Early to Cry Foul? Gachagua Writes to IEBC, Alleges Plot to Rig Ol Kalou By-Election

Arrest Questions Remain Unanswered

What led to the arrest of Ademba was not clear at the time as even the National Police Service had not come out with an explanation concerning the arrest.

His arrest comes just months after the activist had alleged that he had been intimidated and under surveillance due to his activities of mobilizing young voters.

This claim had not been officially verified by the authorities.

By the time of this writing, there were no reports as to whether he had been released, questioned or charged.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for instant news updates