Political leaders across the divide have resorted to unorthodox and highly tactical methods to swing votes their way as the race for the Mbeere North parliamentary seat heats up ahead of the November 27 by-election.
On Tuesday November 18, the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) brigade, led by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, and the opposition group led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, campaigned aggressively in several wards in Mbeere North. Both groups held a combination of campaign rallies and door-to-door events.
The opposition is supporting Newton Kariuki (Karish) of the Democratic Party, while the ruling UDA is keen to recapture the parliamentary seat with their candidate, Leonard Wamuthende Muriuki.
DP Kindiki stole the show on Tuesday, igniting mixed reactions after he was spotted enjoying tea at a local eatery in Karambari ward in bid to get in touch with "the ground". The DP also led a high-energy rally where he drummed up support for Wamuthende.
A few kilometres away, Kariuki's camp, led by DCP leader Gachagua, also upped their vote hunt with campaigns in Riandu Market in Nthawa Ward.
During his engagement, Gachagua went on a typical tirade against the ruling UDA, as he faulted Kindiki for allegedly resorting to the opposition's tactics to seek votes.
A day earlier, Gachagua also earned plaudits after he was spotted engaging in a door-to-door campaign in Mbeere North and interacting with locals on the road.
Campaign Strategy
In what could be a strategy, the opposition appears intent on casting their net as wide as possible and hope to woo voters in as many constituencies participating in the by-elections at the same time.
This was evident from the fact that while Gachagua was in Nthawa, his ally, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, took campaigns to Magarini Constituency in Kilifi to campaign for DCP candidate Stanley Karisa Kenga.
Despite the Mbeere North vote hanging in the balance and campaigns between the two factions taking place in tandem, there have been minimal cases of unrest.
This is even though both UDA and DCP had traded accusations, claiming the other had plans to disrupt rallies and possibly the by-election itself.
The UDA camp has also intensified its presence in the region thanks to the influence of Embu Governor and UDA chairperson, Cecily Mbarire, a known adversary of Gachagua, who is supporting her party's candidate Wamuthende.
The Mbeere North seat fell vacant after Geoffrey Ruku was appointed by President William Ruto to serve as Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes.
