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Mbeere North's second round: Opposition battles to reclaim territory after parliamentary loss
IEBC officials set up solar lighting kits, ballot boxes and other polling materials at St. Bakhita Siakago Girls High School in Mbeere on November 24, 2025, ahead of the Mbeere North by-election.
Mbeere North voters go back to the polls on February 26, 2026, to elect their representatives in two wards, with both the opposition and United Democratic Alliance (UDA) vowing to capture the seats.
The positions fell vacant after Newton Kariuki (Muminji, Devolution and Empowerment Party) and Duncan Mbui (Evurore, Independent) resigned to contest the Mbeere North parliamentary seat by-election, in which UDA’s Leonard Muthende won.
DEP and Democratic Party (DP) will field the candidates in Muminji and Evurore wards, respectively.
According to Kiambeere ward representative Mr Lenny Masters, the opposition is determined to clinch the two seats.
Speaking during the DEP national delegates conference held at K-Best Villa in Kanyuambora area in Embu County on January 10, Mr Masters said the opposition was ready to square it out with UDA despite their defeat in the parliamentary seat.
"We will be alert to ensure that there be no rigging as we witnessed during the by-election on November 27," he said, adding that they would soon hold nominations to identify who will fly the flag for the opposition.
UDA has already nominated its candidates, choosing Mr Peterson Njeru and Mr Duncan Muratia to represent the party in the Muminji and Evurore wards, respectively.
"We did the nominations and are ready for the polls," Embu UDA administrator Mr Lawrence Kamugane said.
The DEP leader, Mr Lenny Kivuti, said his political outfit is in the opposition to stay.
During the conference, the delegates criticised rebel members of the county assembly from Meru and accused 18 MCAs of boycotting the crucial conference.
The Secretary General, Mugambi Imanyara, threatened to expel the MCAs, especially the eight who were nominated, from the party.
"They were invited by the party leader but chose to give the conference a wide berth and they must face disciplinary action," said Mr Imanyara, adding that the legislators had treated their party leader with contempt.
"We sent them to the Assembly to represent the DEP but they are owing allegiance to another leader who is not even a member of DEP which is contempt of the highest order, we can't allow this to continue," said Mr Imanyara.
The DEP national chairman, Mr Titus Ntuchiu, said the political outfit will embark on massive recruitment of members to strengthen it.
During the conference, it was agreed that the DEP (also known as the Bus) would continue to oppose the government in order to campaign for devolution, equitable development, the restoration of integrity in governance, and the upholding of the rule of law.
The delegates also made it clear that DEP is not in coalition with any political party.
"DEP is an independent Party and shall engage in national matters as an independent party and as an equal partner," said Mr Kivuti.
During the conference, the delegates confirmed and endorsed national party officials.
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Further, the delegates resolved to listen to the wishes of the people and act accordingly.
"The DEP is a mass movement Party. Mbus will move to decisively revamp, reorganize, and realize its rightful place in the political future of the great Nation of Kenya. The Party will strive to expand to all other regions in the country, field candidates and win all MCA, Parliamentary, Senatorial and Gubernatorial posts. This resolution should be replicated in all other counties country wide," stated Mr Kivuti.
Mr Ntuchiu said the party was “committed to providing a disciplined, free, fair, and well-structured political platform, firmly rooted in the Constitution of Kenya, the Party Constitution, and the Rule of Law.”
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