The bruising political contests in Mt Kenya East and West during the Mbeere North and Ol Kalou by-elections appear to have set the stage for an even fiercer battle ahead of the 2027 General Election, with the losers refusing to retreat and the winners facing renewed challenges to their fledgling political bases.
In Mbeere North, the November 27, 2025 by-election was narrowly won by United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Leo Wamuthende, who defeated Democratic Party candidate Newton Karish and Chama Cha Kazi’s Duncan Mbui.
Mr Wamuthende garnered 15,802 votes, beating Mr Karish by just 494 votes. Mr Karish received 15,308 votes, while Mr Mbui polled 2,480.
Rather than rallying behind Mr Wamuthende’s call for unity after the contest, Mr Karish and Mr Mbui have since moved to Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), turning their attention to the next political battle.
Mr Mbui has declared that he will seek to reclaim the Mbeere North seat in 2027, while Karish is positioning himself for the Embu Senate race.
The two joined Mr Gachagua during his tour of the Mt Kenya East region last weekend, where they vowed to return to the political battlefield with lessons learnt from their failed bids.
Karish, who was instrumental in campaigning for DCP candidate Kamau Ngotho during the July 16 Ol Kalou by-election, said he was now opposed to Mr Wamuthende’s leadership.
During the Ol Kalou campaign, Karish warned voters against what he termed “our bad experience with false promises and deceptive development projects”.
Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka (left) with the United Opposition candidate in the Mbeere North by-election Newton Karish attend a church service at ACK St Kanyuambora Parish.
Photo credit: Pool
“I want to put Wamuthende on notice that his UDA and their presidential candidate William Ruto lied to us in the by-election. All the promises they made to us have been proved by time to be deceptive courtship gimmicks. We have remained a laughing stock in the national political discourse owing to how easily we fell for the lies,” Mr Karish said.
Mr Mbui said his loss in Mbeere North was the result of a strategic mistake after he was forced to withdraw his DCP candidature in favour of the UDA candidate.
“I am happy that Mr Gachagua has admitted me back to DCP and come 2027, I will snatch this seat from Mr Wamuthende. It was a logistical mistake that cost us this seat in the by-election where I was forced to withdraw my DCP candidature. Had we got our math right, we would not have lost. We are now here to correct that mistake in 2027 and Wamuthende will be home,” Mr Mbui said.
Mr Gachagua has embraced the contest saying he will not repeat the political compromises that saw his party withdraw its candidate in Mbeere North.
“Come 2027, I will be fielding Mr Mbui. I am sorry for what I did to him. It was wrong and I will not repeat that mistake again,” he said.
The renewed challenge has prompted Mr Wamuthende to appeal for an end to what he sees as attempts to turn Mbeere North into a battleground for political egos.
Mr Wamuthende, whose victory survived a court challenge, said his focus was now on delivering development to the constituency.
Newly elected Mbeere North MP Leonard Muthende shares a light moment with President William Ruto.
Photo credit: PSCU
“I humbly thank Almighty God for granting us victory both at the ballot and at the courts where my win was challenged. The victories belong to the great people of Mbeere North who spoke clearly through the ballot. Their trust, prayers and unwavering support have given me strength throughout, and I remain deeply grateful,” he said.
He urged his former competitors to join him in serving the constituency, warning that prolonged political battles risk diverting attention from development.
“I welcome my competitors to join hands with me in working for the development and unity of Mbeere North. Leadership is about service to the people, not endless political battles. I also urge them not to allow themselves to be misused by Mr Gachagua for personal political interests,” he said.
He added that he would continue working with the national government to deliver development projects, improve livelihoods and unite the constituency.
But the political temperature in Mbeere North remains high, with Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku whose appointment to the Cabinet triggered the by-election openly positioning himself against Mr Gachagua and his allies.
Mr Ruku said he would rather “die” than see Mr Gachagua or his loyalists capture political power in Mbeere.
“For avoidance of doubt, we have an agreement with our people that of all the people we can submit to, Mr Gachagua is not an option. We also cannot belong to DCP. In 2027 we only know about UDA, President Ruto’s re-election and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki as our kingpin,” he said.
Mr Ruku is pushing for the creation of what he calls an independent Mt Kenya East voting bloc bringing together Embu, Meru, Tharaka-Nithi, Kirinyaga and Isiolo counties.
But his position has drawn a sharp response from Billy Mwangi, a 21-year-old abduction survivor who is seeking the Embu Senate seat on a DCP ticket.
He accused the Cabinet secretary of pursuing self-preservation politics and urged him to focus on national issues rather than fuelling regional divisions.
The political contest has also spilled into Ol Kalou, where DCP’s Kamau Ngotho defeated UDA’s Muchina Nyaga by a wide margin in the July 16 by-election.
Ol Kalou MP Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru Ngotho along Harambee Avenue, Nairobi, on July 28, 2026. He's accompanied by DCP colleagues as he heads to take oath of office.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
Mr Ngotho secured about 83 per cent of the vote against Mr Nyaga’s 13 per cent and was sworn in on July 28.
Mr Nyaga, who has since been appointed chairman of the Nairobi Rivers Commission, has embarked on a month-long tour of Ol Kalou, meeting supporters and seeking to maintain his political network ahead of 2027.
Mr Ngotho has played down the renewed activity, saying political competition should not destroy relationships among leaders and residents.
“Let us play individual game but remain committed to the friendship, unity and prosperity of our people,” he said.
Mr Gachagua, who was speaking to a Nyandarua delegation at his Wamunyoro home in Nyeri County, also urged Mr Ngotho not to be distracted by Mr Nyaga’s activities.
DCP's Sammy Ngotho, accompanied by Nyandarua Senator John Methu, Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia, and other leaders, acknowledges supporters during the final campaign rally at Arboretum Grounds in Ol Kalou on July 13, 2026.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation
“You are the MP. You have the mandate and authority. Let him roam the constituency. Just realise the campaigns are over and start serving the people as you listen to them. If you do what they demand, 2027 will be very easy for you,” Mr Gachagua said.
Mr Nyaga defended his renewed engagement with voters, saying it was aimed at thanking those who supported him during the by-election and monitoring development projects associated with the national government.
“I also need to appraise them on President Ruto’s commitment to fulfil all the development promises despite the loss. Although our victory was postponed, our commitment to the people of Ol Kalou remains unwavering,” he said.
He said he would remain on the ground to supervise the completion of 36 electrification projects, construction of 12 homes for needy families, and ongoing water, education and healthcare projects, as well as a stadium.
“These projects are not about politics; they are about the future of Ol Kalou. I have accepted the responsibility of closely supervising their progress,” he said.
Nyandarua Senator John Methu welcomed Mr Nyaga’s involvement in development matters but warned him against crossing constitutional boundaries.
Mr Methu said Mr Nyaga was welcome to serve the people in his capacity “as long as you do not attempt to trash the Constitution that spells out separation of power”.
Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia urged Mr Nyaga to use his influence as President Ruto’s representative in Ol Kalou while recognising the political reality created by the by-election.
She said he should not use his position to undermine Mr Gachagua, DCP or Mr Ngotho, whom she described as the established political power centres in Ol Kalou.
