The political temperature in Embu County’s Mbeere North constituency has risen sharply ahead of the much-anticipated by-election set for November 27.
A fierce war of words has erupted between Democratic Party (DP) allies led by National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and President William Ruto’s close aides, after an incident in Kanyuambora where United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Hon. Muthende was reportedly forced to cut short his campaign speech.
According to viral videos and eyewitness accounts, chaos erupted during UDA’s campaign stop at Kanyuambora when sections of the crowd booed and chanted in support of the Democratic Party candidate, Hon. Newton Karish.
The commotion reportedly forced Muthende to abandon his address, signaling what observers describe as a significant political shift in the constituency that was previously considered a UDA stronghold.
Following the incident, Speaker Justin Muturi took to Facebook with a strongly worded post, praising Mbeere North residents for what he described as a bold stand against political manipulation and corruption.
“The will of the people can never be bought with stolen money. What happened today in Kanyuambora speaks volumes. The people of Mbeere North have spoken loud and clear. No amount of intimidation or handouts will change their stand,” Muturi wrote.
“The ground is solidly behind the Democratic Party candidate, Hon. Newton Karish — a man who stands for truth, integrity, and service to the people. Come the 27th of this month, Mbeere North will once again make history by voting for real leadership, not puppets of corruption.”
Muturi’s remarks, which quickly gained traction online under hashtags such as #TeamKarish, #DemocraticParty, and #MbeereNorthDecides, underscored what many now view as an intensifying power struggle between President Ruto and his estranged deputy, former DP Rigathi Gachagua.
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Although Gachagua had earlier announced that he would not field his own candidate, reports indicate that he quietly threw his support behind the DP candidate, Newton Karish, as part of the emerging “United Opposition” movement.
The alliance seeks to challenge Ruto’s perceived dominance in Mount Kenya politics, a region once solidly behind the UDA leader.
However, President Ruto’s allies have dismissed Muturi’s assertions, accusing the Speaker of spreading propaganda to create false narratives about the campaign atmosphere.
Digital strategist and State House communications director, Dennis Itumbi, was quick to respond to Muturi’s post. In a fiery rebuttal shared on X (formerly Twitter), Itumbi claimed that the Kanyuambora campaigns proceeded peacefully and that the video shared online was misleading.
“Mbeere North night campaigns should be a whole study,” Itumbi wrote. “Still ongoing, very cordial and interactive, still on the ground. But why would anyone publish outright lies about ongoing events? Even if you lie, who are you trying to deceive? The people on the ground know the truth.”
Itumbi accused Muturi and his team of engaging in “desktop politics” and “editing reality to fit a narrative,” adding that the crowd at Kanyuambora had in fact “danced and sang” with the UDA candidate before the event ended.
Political analysts argue that the unfolding drama reflects deep divisions within the ruling coalition. The by-election, though local, has evolved into a symbolic contest between two rival power centers — Ruto’s UDA and Gachagua’s emerging opposition bloc.
Dr. Sarah Wambui, a political commentator, notes that Mbeere North has become a microcosm of the broader Mount Kenya political realignment.
“This race is no longer about Newton Karish or Muthende alone,” she says. “It’s a proxy battle between two former allies turned rivals — Ruto and Gachagua. Whoever wins here will claim moral authority over the region’s political direction.”
As campaigns enter the final stretch, both camps are intensifying their grassroots mobilization. For Muturi and Karish, the focus is on portraying DP as a movement of integrity and local empowerment. For Ruto’s team, the message is one of continuity, stability, and unity under the Kenya Kwanza government.
With just over three weeks to go, the Mbeere North by-election is shaping up as more than just a constituency race — it’s a defining moment for Mount Kenya’s political future
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