A popular aspirant in the Mbeere North by-election appeared to had switched allegiance to UDA after Jubilee Party declined to issue him a nomination certificate.
Jacob Ireri Mbao was dealt a blow this week when the Uhuru Kenyatta-led party turned him away, stating that it would not field a candidate in the by-election.
However, reports emerged that Mbao met with the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Geoffrey Ruku, shortly after the Jubilee rejection.
News of this meeting fuelled speculation that Mbao was dropping out of the race in favour of the UDA candidate, Leonard Muthende.
The UDA-allied CS has significant political influence in the region and is seen as a likely kingmaker in his succession race.
Backing down in favour of Muthende would give UDA a major boost, given Mbao’s perceived influence on the locals.
This would leave three front-runners in the race - Muthende, Democratic Party’s Newton Karish and Chama Cha Kazi’s Duncan Mbui who is positional himself as the alternative choice to the front two.
Jubilee Rejection
In a letter dated October 1 and addressed to Mbao, Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni clarified that the party would not be backing the aspirant, but would instead be supporting the Democratic Party candidate.
“We sincerely regret to inform you that the Jubilee Party is unable to issue a nomination certificate at this time. This decision arises from a resolution made by the United Opposition under the leadership of H.E. Kalonzo Musyoka and Hon. Rigathi Gachagua, among others, to field a single candidate under the Democratic Party in the Mbeere North by-election scheduled for 27th November 2025,” the letter read in part.
Mbao, who is hard of hearing, has been one of the front runners in the race to succeed Ruku as the Mbeere North MP and his candidacy was seen as a chance for Jubilee to assert its presence in the region.
Earlier on August 7, Kioni confirmed that he met a delegation led by Mbao.
“Today I hosted a delegation from Mbeere North led by Hon. Jacob Ireri, a Jubilee Party aspirant,” Kioni shared.
Later in September, Jubilee Deputy Organizing Secretary Pauline Njoroge hinted that the party would not have a candidate in the race.
According to Njoroge, Jubilee’s National Executive Council had not issued nomination papers for any candidate in the race as it would instead support a candidate chosen by the united opposition
“The National Executive Council, which Uhuru Kenyatta chairs, has not issued nomination papers to any aspirant for the Mbeere North parliamentary by-election,” she said.
