Nyandarua Senator John Methu has shared how his three-month campaign to secure the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election for the Democratic Change Party (DCP) led to a significant weight loss of 12kg.

In a Facebook post, Methu humorously noted that the grueling ground mobilization efforts, not gym sessions, were responsible for his physical transformation.

The by-election, which followed the death of MP David Njuguna Kiaraho in March 2026, became a proxy battle between President William Ruto's UDA and former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua's DCP for influence over Mt Kenya.

Methu, appointed DCP's secretary-general designate in May 2026, focused on early morning strategy sessions and direct community engagement, which observers credited with outmaneuvering UDA's campaign.DCP's candidate, Sammy Kamau Ngotho, won the seat with 35,440 votes, while UDA's Samuel Muchina Nyagah secured 5,450 votes.

Kenyans reacted with humor to Methu's weight loss, with comments like 'Politics is the best gym ever' and 'Kumbe nyinyi pia mnaeza konda juu ya siasa' reflecting the public's engagement with the senator's candid admission.