President William Ruto’s camp and that of his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua on Friday traded blame over what both sides say is planned violence in the Mbeere North by-elections scheduled for November 27.
While President Ruto’s UDA chairperson Cecily Mbarire said she had reported Mr Gachagua’s team to Ishiara Police Station over such plans, former Attorney General Justin Muturi of the Democratic Party wrote a protest letter to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC, alleging a plot by State-backed operatives to influence the by-election through intimidation, bribery and disruption of voting.
“My statement that is now with investigators is that Gachagua and his cahoots are planning massive violence in political rallies and in polling stations so as to distort the will of the people. I have told the police that the plan involves dressing those goons with UDA colours so as to incriminate us in electoral malpractices,” Ms Mbarire, who is also the Embu governor, told the Daily Nation .
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku drums up support for Mbeere North by-election parliamentary candidate Leonard Wamuthende during a campaign rally at Kirie Trading Centre in Embu County on November 19, 2025.
In his protest letter to IEBC chairman Erastus Ethekon and received by the commission on Friday, Mr Muturi claimed the State had deployed armed goons ferried from Nairobi and Thika in Kiambu County, who were allegedly working under the protection of police officers and other security officials in civilian clothes.
“As a sponsoring party in the 27th November Mbeere North by-elections… we write to protest planned use of armed goons from Nairobi and Thika… in favour of the UDA candidate, with involvement of National Government Administration officers under the escort and command of National Police Service in civilian clothes,” Mr Muturi wrote.
According to Mr Muturi, the said goons have been spotted in Kanyuambura, Ishiara and Siakago towns, and intelligence gathered by the party indicates they are preparing to invade targeted polling centres in areas considered strongholds of the DP candidate Newton Kariuki, popularly known as Karish, who is the United Opposition candidate.
“We have information that there are already plans to invade selected polling centres in the strongholds of our candidate with the aim of suppressing and disrupting voting on polling day,” he said, adding that the heavy presence of unfamiliar groups “whose motive is clearly mischievous” gives credence to the fears.
Mr Muturi further accused UDA of engaging in what he described as rampant voter bribery during government-friendly rallies, and of planning a scheme in which voters would take photos of their marked ballot papers in exchange for money.
“This is clearly against the principle of secret ballot in elections,” he protested.
The letter urges the IEBC to take immediate steps to avert what he termed “evil and illegal machinations”, ensure full transparency during voting, and supply all polling stations with updated voter registers to avoid cases of missing or misplaced names.
Mbeere North by-election parliamentary candidate Duncan Mbui of Chama Cha Kazi campaigns at Kamumu Village on November 19, 2025.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi | Nation Media Group
In a follow-up interview, Mr Muturi reaffirmed the concerns. “Those are valid and legitimate issues we would like the IEBC to address. The people of Mbeere North deserve a free, fair, credible and verifiable election,” he said.
The by-election has turned into a high-stakes contest between President William Ruto’s UDA, which is backing Mr Leonard Wamuthende, and the United Opposition team aligned with Mr Gachagua, which is supporting the Democratic Party’s Mr Kariuki.
President Ruto has handed over the campaign steering role to his deputy, Prof Kithure Kindiki , who has pitched tent in the constituency for days, drumming up support for Mr Wamuthende.
Prof Kindiki has framed the poll as a development referendum, urging residents to elect the UDA candidate to ensure quicker delivery of government projects.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki flanked by Mbeere North UDA candidate Leonard Wamuthende during a campaign rally in Mbeere North Constituency.
Photo credit: DPCS
“The development needs of Mbeere North are massive. We can’t afford to play cards with our development again. Those telling you to join the opposition don’t mean well for you,” the Deputy President said during rallies in Muthanthara and Kirie.
He listed road, water and electricity projects the Ruto administration is undertaking in the constituency, including the tarmacking of Siakago-Kanyuambora, Gikuyari-Ishiara and Kanyuambora-Kamumu roads.
Others include the Sh250 million Kanyuambora Ward Water Project, the Sh150 million Kamata Water Project in Nthawa Ward, and the multi-billion-shilling Kiambere Dam water project expected to serve both Mbeere South and North. The area has also received Sh336 million for last-mile electricity connections, a figure the DP said would be doubled after his intervention.
“It will be easier for Leo to push the government to complete these projects because he will enjoy the support of all other leaders in Embu and will have an ear of top government officials including our President,” he said.
At the same time, Prof Kindiki accused the opposition of “spreading hate, threats and insults”, warning that such conduct “must come to an end”.
“This is outrageous. Clearly, some people are sensing defeat. The government has no reason whatsoever to engage in any way in such a manner. The police are there to protect everyone without fear or favour. These are just sideshows that should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve,” Mr Mwaura told the Daily Nation on Friday.
Mbeere North by-election parliamentary candidate Lawrence Ireri of Safina Party campaigns on bicycle at Kirie Village on November 19, 2025.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi | Nation Media Group
By the time of going to press, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and police spokesperson Michael Nyaga Muchiri had not responded to the allegations.
Speaking in Kaungu and Karambari shopping centres as he campaigned for Karish, Mr Gachagua dismissed Ms Mbarire claims as "laughable, panic driven and an outright non-issue".
"Mbarire works for her boss, who is commander in chief of the armed forces and who also has appointed Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja into office. How the UDA party leader, who is President William Ruto, and his chairperson Mbarire can come out in police stations to record statements is peacocking in an arena of shame,” said Mr Gachagua.
