Political Battleground Emerges in Embu County

MBEERE, KENYA – Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has publicly endorsed Leonard ‘Leo wa Muthende’ Muriuki as the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate for the Mbeere North parliamentary seat in the upcoming by-election scheduled for Thursday, November 27, 2025. The declaration from the former area MP positions the contest as a crucial political barometer for the ruling Kenya Kwanza administration's influence in the Mt. Kenya region.

The Mbeere North seat became vacant following Mr. Ruku's appointment to the Cabinet by President William Ruto on March 26, 2025. Ruku, who was elected on a Democratic Party (DP) ticket in the 2022 General Election, is now spearheading the campaign for the UDA candidate, urging constituents to align with the government for continued development.

A Two-Horse Race with National Implications

The by-election has evolved into a fiercely contested race, primarily between UDA's Leo wa Muthende and the Democratic Party's Newton Karish. The contest is widely viewed as a proxy battle between President William Ruto and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who has thrown his weight behind the opposition candidate. Mr. Gachagua's Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) withdrew its potential candidate to support Karish, a move aimed at consolidating the opposition vote under the leadership of former Public Service CS Justin Muturi, the leader of the Democratic Party.

On September 6, 2025, UDA announced that seven other aspirants had stepped down in a consensus to back Muthende, a decision lauded by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki as a sign of party unity and political maturity. The UDA campaign, led by CS Ruku and other Kenya Kwanza leaders, argues that electing a government-aligned MP will ensure the continuity of development projects initiated by the former legislator.

Allegations and Tensions Mar Campaigns

The campaign period, which the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) slated to run from October 8 to November 24, has not been without controversy. Opposition leaders, including former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti, have accused CS Ruku and the UDA camp of using state resources, including government vehicles, to campaign for Muthende. Ruku has publicly denied these claims, dismissing them as tactics by an opposition that fears defeat.

Furthermore, reports have emerged linking the UDA candidate, Leo wa Muthende, to a past Sh433 million scandal involving an oxygen plant at Kenyatta National Hospital, adding another layer of complexity to the race. Tensions have also been stoked by allegations from the opposition of a plot to rig the election by importing voters, claims that the ruling party has refuted. A recent viral video threatening former DP Gachagua ahead of a planned campaign visit prompted former CS Moses Kuria to publicly call on the IEBC to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.

The Mbeere North constituency has approximately 55,000 registered voters, according to 2022 IEBC data. The by-election's outcome is anticipated to have significant political ramifications, potentially reshaping alliances and affirming political dominance within the populous Mt. Kenya voting bloc ahead of the 2027 general elections.