Allegations of Violence Emerge on Election Day

Tension escalated in the Mbeere North constituency by-election on Thursday morning, November 27, 2025, after Chama Cha Kazi (CCK) party leader Moses Kuria alleged that his polling agents were attacked. The claims, which surfaced as polls opened, cast a shadow over a contest already defined by intense political rivalry and prior warnings of potential violence. The by-election is widely viewed as a critical political litmus test for the vote-rich Mt. Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election. Further details on the specific locations and nature of the alleged attacks, and the condition of the agents, are still emerging and require further investigation.

A Campaign Fraught with Accusations

The allegations on polling day did not occur in a vacuum. The campaign period leading up to the November 27 vote was characterized by a volatile atmosphere, with major political players trading accusations of planned violence and intimidation. On Saturday, November 22, Mr. Kuria himself had publicly warned the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) about rising insecurity, urging for reinforced security and stating that the “international community is watching.” His concerns were echoed by the United Opposition, led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and former Attorney General Justin Muturi. In a formal letter to the IEBC dated November 20, Mr. Muturi alleged a state-backed plot to deploy armed goons and use voter bribery to disrupt the election. On the eve of the election, Wednesday, November 26, Mr. Gachagua’s camp further claimed that 15,000 pre-marked ballot papers had been dispatched to the constituency.

These accusations were met with firm denials and counter-allegations from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party. Embu Governor and UDA Chairperson Cecily Mbarire stated she had reported Mr. Gachagua’s team to the Ishiara Police Station for allegedly planning violence and intending to disguise their agents in UDA colours to incriminate the party. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who spearheaded the UDA campaign, repeatedly assured residents that the government would deploy all lawful means to ensure a peaceful election and prevent any disruption.

Official Assurances on Security

In response to the heated political climate, both the IEBC and the National Police Service (NPS) had issued multiple public assurances of their preparedness. The NPS, through its spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga, confirmed on Wednesday, November 26, that adequate security, including uniformed and plainclothes officers, was deployed to ensure a peaceful process. The police service warned that any individual, regardless of political standing, who engaged in or incited unlawful activity would “face the full force of the law.” Similarly, IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan, speaking in Mbeere North on November 26, stated that robust security measures were in place, with two police officers assigned to every polling station, and urged for calm.

A High-Stakes Political Battleground

The Mbeere North by-election is more than a local contest; it is a proxy battle for political dominance in the Mt. Kenya region. The seat fell vacant following the appointment of its former MP, Geoffrey Ruku, to the Cabinet in April 2025. The race has pitted Deputy President Kindiki, campaigning for UDA’s Leonard Wamuthende, against his predecessor Mr. Gachagua, who has backed the Democratic Party’s Newton Kariuki. Mr. Kuria’s CCK party, fielding Duncan Ireri Mbui, represents a third force in this deeply personalized and strategic contest. The outcome is expected to have significant implications for the political alignments and power dynamics within the ruling coalition and the broader opposition as the country looks toward 2027. The events of Thursday morning have now shifted focus to the ability of state institutions to manage electoral security and investigate the serious allegations of violence impartially.