Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku accused Gachagua of resorting to purchasing identity cards belonging to people in areas where United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party candidate Leonard Muriuki has his stronghold in the Mbeere North by-election.
CS said that Gachagua’s team had resorted to desperate means to win the hotly contested by-election that is hardly a week away
While Ruto remains tucked away in State House, directing affairs from a distance, Gachagua has plunged himself deep into the campaign trail, positioning himself as the region’s defender and aspiring kingpin.
President Ruto has deliberately avoided setting foot in Mbeere North, even though UDA desperately wants the seat.
Instead, he has deployed Public Service CS Ruku, the former area MP, and Embu governor Cecily Mbarire to rally behind UDA candidate Leonard Wamuthende.
His absence is strategic- a calculated move to avoid appearing weakened in a region where his popularity has dipped sharply.
Gachagua, on the other hand, has seized the moment, rallying behind Democratic Party candidate Newton Kariuki (Karish), he has framed the by-election as a test of regional loyalty and his growing influence.
Though Karish is not running under Gachagua’s DCP, the former deputy president is using the contest to showcase his strength without risking a direct party loss.
A victory for Karish would bolster Gachagua’s claim as the new Mt Kenya kingpin, especially as he continues to gain legitimacy following retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s remarks urging Jubilee members to treat him respectfully.
On the other side of the chessboard, Ruto’s retreat has raised eyebrows. Analysts argue that the President is carefully avoiding a public confrontation with Gachagua.
By keeping his distance, he prevents the perception of a direct Ruto-versus-Gachagua duel, opting instead to gauge the political strength of Deputy President Kindiki Kithure, who has been pushed into the forefront of the campaign.
However, this positioning puts Kindiki in a precarious spot. If he fails to deliver Mbeere North, a constituency near his Tharaka Nithi home, it weakens his credibility as the region’s new spokesperson.
Ruto’s retreat is also shaped by recent political realities. His brand has become increasingly unpopular in parts of Mt Kenya, heightened by the hostile reception he received in Embu in late 2024.
To avoid another public backlash that could undermine his national image, he has chosen to stay away from the ground battlefield.
Tags:
Politics