UDA Intensifies Mbeere North Campaign as By-Election nears

On Friday evening, a strong delegation led by Deputy Party Leader and Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki stormed Ngunyumu and Kune, presenting Muthende as the most suitable candidate to continue the development agenda left by former MP Geoffrey Ruku, who was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Public Service.

“We are not asking you to vote for Leonard Wamuthende without a reason. We are asking you to vote for him because we know he will continue tarmacking roads, connecting households to electricity, implementing water projects, and managing bursary funds just as well as Ruku did—if not better,” Kindiki said.

Kindiki also criticized the activities of DP Party Leader Rigathi Gachagua in the Mbeere North campaigns, accusing him of disparaging Embu County leaders and sowing discord instead of focusing on his candidate’s agenda.

“I warn him not to bring divisive politics here. Even after the by-election, our people will still need to coexist peacefully. The people of Mbeere North are interested in their candidate’s agenda, not division,” he said.

UDA Chairperson and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire urged residents not to elect an opposition MP, arguing that only “fools would deliberately walk into the opposition, and Mbeere North people are not fools.”

Muthende, on his part, pledged that if elected next Thursday, he would ensure fair distribution of bursaries and work with friends and other stakeholders to establish an education fund to supplement bursary allocations.

He also condemned Gachagua for what he termed as disparaging remarks about his family, saying family matters should be kept away from politics.

“Gachagua came here and said I don’t have a wife and children. For the record, I have a family—but why would another man be interested in my family members? He also said I don’t have a home. Is he the one who houses me? That kind of hateful politics has no place in Mbeere North,” Muthende said.

CS Geoffrey Ruku, who accompanied the team, also criticized Gachagua for targeting Muthende’s family and noted that some of the stunts he is pulling in Mbeere North are considered taboos among the Mbeere people.

Other leaders on the campaign trail included Embu Senator Alexander Mundigi, Tharaka Nithi Woman Representative Susan Mwindu, MPs Eric Muchangi Karemba (Runyenjes), Eng. Nebart Muriuki (Mbeere South), Patrick Munene (Chuka–Igamba Ng’ombe), and others—all campaigning for Wamuthende.

Wamuthende is facing Newton Kariuki of the DP Party and Duncan Mbui of the CCK Party in the by-election scheduled for next Thursday. The vote will be held alongside the Baringo County senatorial by-election, parliamentary by-elections in Banissa, Kasipul, Magarini, Malava, and Ugunja constituencies, and MCA by-elections in 17 wards across the country.