High-Stakes Contest Marked by Accusations

EMBU, KENYA – Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji, a legislator elected on the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, has issued a stark warning regarding the upcoming Mbeere North constituency by-election, alleging a coordinated campaign of state-sponsored intimidation aimed at frustrating opposition efforts. Speaking during a campaign event on Sunday, November 16, 2025, Mukunji claimed that police were being deployed to intimidate voters and block the United Opposition from holding rallies for their candidate. “We were told that there were plans to block us from stepping foot in Mbeere North... this is to show that your candidate does not have friends,” Mukunji stated, urging voters to remain courageous.

These allegations have intensified the political climate surrounding the November 27 mini-poll, turning the contest into a significant barometer of political influence in President William Ruto's administration and the broader Mt. Kenya region. The by-election was occasioned by the appointment of the constituency's former MP, Geoffrey Ruku, to the cabinet as the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service in April 2025.

A Proxy Battle for Mt. Kenya's Loyalty

The Mbeere North race is widely viewed as a proxy battle between two powerful competing factions. On one side is the ruling UDA party, which has deployed its top leadership to campaign for its candidate, Leonard Wamuthende, also known as Leo. The UDA campaign is spearheaded by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, CS Geoffrey Ruku, and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, who also serves as the UDA party chairperson.

On the other side, a formidable coalition of opposition figures has rallied behind the Democratic Party (DP) candidate, Newton Karish. This alliance, termed the United Opposition, is prominently led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who has camped in the constituency to lead grassroots campaigns. He is joined by other political heavyweights including former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, who once represented the constituency, and Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

The contest is seen as a crucial test of Gachagua's political clout in the Mt. Kenya region following his impeachment and subsequent fallout with President Ruto. A victory for the opposition-backed candidate would be interpreted as a significant political statement and could reshape regional alliances ahead of the 2027 general election.

Claims and Counter-Claims of Interference

MP Mukunji’s assertions of intimidation are part of a broader pattern of accusations traded between the two camps. Leaders backing Karish have consistently claimed that the government is using its machinery to unfairly influence the election's outcome. Former DP Gachagua has also alleged that UDA is mobilizing groups to disrupt their campaigns after sensing defeat.

The UDA camp has vehemently denied these claims and launched counter-accusations. On November 15, 2025, Governor Mbarire filed a complaint at Ishiara Police Station, alleging that Gachagua and his allies were planning to cause chaos and blame it on the ruling party. Deputy President Kindiki, during a rally in Siakago town on Monday, November 17, 2025, dismissed the opposition's campaign as being based on “slogans, insults and chest-thumping” and vowed to deliver a decisive victory for the UDA candidate. “I will face them in this contest and they will know what we're capable of doing,” DP Kindiki stated, promising the full support of the national government for Wamuthende.

With a history of unpredictable voting patterns, the Mbeere North constituency, formerly known as Siakago, has become the epicenter of a national political struggle. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has reportedly identified the area as a potential hotspot for volatility due to the inflammatory rhetoric. As campaigning enters its final week, the focus remains not only on the candidates but on the powerful political figures backing them, each viewing this small constituency as a critical battleground in the larger war for Kenya's political future.