Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has hit back at allies of the United Democratic Party (UDA) who questioned his presence in Mbeere North Constituency ahead of the November 27 by-election, insisting he has every right to campaign in the region despite UDA not fielding a candidate of his choice.
Speaking during a church service in Mbeere North on Sunday, Gachagua dismissed claims that he was interfering with UDA activities or overstepping political boundaries. He said those opposing his visits had forgotten that he was elected as Deputy President by the people of Mbeere and the entire Mt. Kenya region on a joint ticket with President William Ruto.
According to him, Mbeere remains part of the broader Mt. Kenya community that overwhelmingly supported him in 2022, and therefore no one has the authority to bar him from engaging residents.
“I cannot be told not to come to Mbeere North. The people here elected me as Deputy President together with President Ruto. This is still my home, and Mt. Kenya remains my political base,” Gachagua stated.
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Gachagua boldly declared that Hon. Karish—who is running under the United Opposition banner—is his preferred candidate in the by-election. He announced that he would camp in Mbeere North for the next ten days to rally voters behind Karish, whom he described as a leader capable of offering independent thought and resisting undue political influence.
He accused UDA of attempting to impose their candidate on the people, warning that electing Hon. Muthende, the UDA candidate, would amount to installing a “yes-sir politician” who lacks the courage to question unfavorable decisions coming from the ruling coalition.
“If you elect a government-sponsored candidate, he will simply agree with whatever he is told. He will not challenge bad decisions, and that is dangerous for the people,” Gachagua said. “I am asking the residents of Mbeere North to vote for Hon. Karish because he will stand firm, ask questions, and defend your interests.”
In a striking escalation of his long-running fallout with President Ruto, Gachagua warned that the political contest between them is far from over. He vowed to deliver a political showdown that the Head of State “will never forget.”
“I want to tell my brother, President Ruto, that this political duel is just beginning. What is coming will be unforgettable,” Gachagua declared, drawing cheers from sections of the congregation.
His remarks intensify the growing political tension within the Kenya Kwanza coalition, where factions allied to the President and those loyal to Gachagua have openly clashed over the Mt. Kenya vote and party control.
Analysts say the Mbeere North by-election has now evolved into more than a local contest—it has become a battleground for a larger power struggle within the ruling coalition.
Residents now await an intensified campaign period as Gachagua begins his 10-day stay in the constituency to sell Karish’s candidature.
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