President William Ruto's administration has been accused of reportedly using government resources to campaign for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Leo Muriuki Muthende for the Mbeere North seat.
Geoffrey Ruku, the Public Service Cabinet Secretary and former Mbeere North MP, has reportedly been travelling throughout the constituency in government helicopters and fancy cars to promote Muthende in an effort to bring developments to the people's doorstep.
Duncan Mbui, the Chama Cha Kazi (CCK) candidate, made the claims while accusing Ruku of nepotism in the constituency and of only appointing state officials to his family members and ward residents.
He further accused President William Ruto of facilitating this practice by allowing it to continue without consequences.
However, none of his claims that the CS had appointed several of his relatives, including his brother and cousins, have been substantiated.
"We want to tell President William Ruto that we cannot take this lightly. You chose Geoffrey Ruku to be your CS, and then on the other side, Ruku has chosen his younger brother to advise Kithure Kindiki," Mbui lamented.
Ruku's repeated trips to the region, including his impromptu visits to government offices, have raised eyebrows from opponents, forcing him to clarify his stance.
Speaking on Monday, September 22, Ruku reiterated his support for the UDA candidate but denied claims that his development tours in the region were to campaign for him.
Insisting that his intentions were lawful, he said, "I want them to go and read Article 25. A cabinet secretary is allowed by the law to champion the interests of a party or of a candidate, and I have my candidate."
As the campaigns for the upcoming by-elections heat up, Mbui, who recently left Rigathi Gachagua's Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) for Moses Kuria's CCK, has taken on several of his opponents, drawn from several parties, including UDA and DCP, which he wanted to join before he was denied a ticket.
He is the sitting Member of County Assembly (MCA) for Evurore Ward and ran as an independent candidate in the 2022 elections. His campaign tactic so far has been directly challenging the UDA's efforts to consolidate support and secure the seat.
On September 7, UDA nominated Leo Muriuki Muthende to vie for the Mbeere North constituency seat in the upcoming by-election, in an event attended by both CS Ruku and DP Kindiki.
The nomination was arrived at after seven other hopefuls who wanted to run with the ruling party's ticket stepped down in a consensus.
"As a party, we are happy to see the candidates have all endorsed one candidate," Kindiki stated during the nomination ceremony.
The by-elections will be carried out on November 27.
