President William Ruto has once again demonstrated his reputation as a master political strategist, judging by the decisive victory of his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate, Leo Wamuthende, in the Mbeere North by-election held on Thursday.
Wamuthende, flying the UDA flag, defied the odds and outmanoeuvred Democratic Party contender Newton Kariuki—popularly known as Newton Karish—who entered the race as the favourite.
In the final tally, Wamuthende clinched 15,802 votes, narrowly beating Karish, who secured 15,308 votes.
Jubilation swept through Siakago, Mutuobare, Kanyuambora, and other centres in the constituency. Supporters hoisted Wamuthende shoulder-high, chanting victory songs and celebrating what they described as a hard-fought win.
What began as a routine by-election—occasioned by the appointment of former MP Geoffrey Ruku to Cabinet in March 2025—quickly morphed into a fierce political showdown between two of Kenya’s most influential power blocs: that of the current Deputy President, Kithure Kindiki, and his predecessor, Rigathi Gachagua.
Deputy President Kindiki took personal charge of the campaigns, traversing Mbeere North to pitch Wamuthende as the candidate of development, stability, and continuity for government-backed projects.
Yet behind the scenes, the government is estimated to have spent approximately Sh700 million to secure the seat for UDA.
A simple breakdown shows that each vote cast for Wamuthende effectively cost the government nearly Sh50,000.
Even with the staggering expenditure, the outcome has strengthened President Ruto’s grip on Mount Kenya politics—while presenting Kindiki as a calm, effective closer. This stands in stark contrast to Rigathi Gachagua, whose high-volume politics, critics say, rarely translated into tangible results.
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