A police officer searches his bag in Ol Kalou during the parliamentary by-election on July 16, 2026. /SCREENGRABA rare scene unfolded in Ol Kalou on Thursday when residents determined to safeguard the integrity of the parliamentary by-election stopped police vehicles and insisted officers open their bags and vehicles for inspection amid suspicions they could be transporting stuffed ballot papers.
Videos shared on X appeared to show residents in Ol Kalou stopping police vehicles and asking officers to open their bags and vehicles for inspection amid suspicions that they could be transporting stuffed ballot papers during Thursday's parliamentary by-election.
The videos showed uniformed General Service Unit (GSU) officers removing bags from their vehicles, unzipping them and displaying their contents to members of the public gathered around.
"Hakuna kitu kama karatasi, zote ni nguo (There's nothing like paper. They are all clothes)," one of the officers said as he emptied a bag.
A woman in the crowd assured the officers that the exercise was not intended to humiliate them.
"Tunawapenda (We love you)," she said.
The footage also appeared to show an officer folding down the passenger seat of a police vehicle, allowing members of the public to inspect the rear compartment.
"Sawa sawa (It's okay)," a voice from the crowd responded before the officer returned the seat to its original position.
The videos sparked debate on X, with some users praising residents for remaining vigilant during the election.
"We need more of such vigilance. Nothing can be left to chance," one user wrote.
"For the first time seeing a police officer taking orders from a civilian," another posted.
Other users commended the officers for exercising restraint during the encounter.
"This is the reality many officers face today. You're expected to exercise maximum restraint even when under attack. You can be pelted with stones while carrying a firearm, but if you use force and fatalities occur, you're often left to face the legal and public consequences alone. It's a difficult balance between protecting lives, enforcing the law and remaining accountable," one user said.
"The police in uniform have no problem... shida ni the hooded goons," another added.
The Ol Kalou by-election was conducted under heavy security, with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and the National Police Service deploying additional officers to maintain order.
Tension later escalated after masked men reportedly lobbed teargas near St Joseph's Catholic Comprehensive School polling centre.
During the incident, veteran photojournalist Enos Teche said he was assaulted and injured after the men seized his camera and attacked him while he documented the events.
