A king without an army? Ruku digs at Gachagua's Mt Kenya bid

Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku during an impromptu visit to the government offices at the Eastern regional headquarters in Embu town on August 18, 2025. [Muriithi Mugo, Standard]

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has launched a blistering political attack on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's claim to the kingship of the Mt Kenya Region.

The CS said Gachugua's Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP)'s failure to field a candidate in the hotly contested Mbeere North by-election proved that he was not the region's kingpin.

The November 27 min poll in Mbeere North has been billed as a litmus test of President William Ruto's grip on the restive Mt Kenya region and Gachagua's rise as its kingpin.

Speaking during the commissioning of a new administration block at Kogari Comprehensive School in Evurori Ward, Embu County, Ruku said Gachagua's DCP has cowered out of the race.

“If he is man enough politically, why didn’t he field a candidate in Mbeere North?” he asked, drawing thunderous applause. “He calls himself a kingpin but brings no one to the field. That’s not leadership; it’s fear.”

Ruku’s remarks set the tone for what has become a fierce and symbolic showdown in Mbeere North, a constituency that was previously considered politically quiet but has now erupted into a high-stakes proxy war over control of Mt Kenya's political future.

The by-election, triggered by Ruku’s appointment to Cabinet, has become a key testing ground for influence within the Kenya Kwanza alliance. While the Deputy President’s allies had fronted Evurori MCA Dan Mbui under the Democratic Conservative Party (DCP), the party suddenly pulled out of the race in a surprise move, which CS Ruku has interpreted as an act of political fear rather than strategy.

The DCP withdrawal led to the Evurori Ward MCA and former DCP candidate defecting to Moses Kuria’s Chama Cha Kazi (CCK) to continue his bid.

The Jubilee Party also followed suit, withdrawing its candidate, Jacob Ireri, CEO of the Deaf Empowerment Society of Kenya (DESK), in what it described as a gesture to support a “united opposition front”. Ireri, a respected voice in disability advocacy, has yet to announce his next political move.

With both DCP and Jubilee out of the race, the battle lines have now clearly formed, narrowing the contest to a fierce three-horse race: Leonard Muriuki of UDA, Newton Karish (DP), backed by Gachagua, former Speaker Justin Muturi, and ex-Senator Lenny Kivuti, and Dan Mbui under Chama Cha Kazi.

CS Ruku has urged the people of Mbeere North to align with President William Ruto’s development agenda. He underscored that the Kenya Kwanza administration is delivering tangible results in areas that have long been neglected.

“Mbeere North is firmly on the national development radar,” Ruku said. “We are moving with speed to deliver roads, water, electricity, education, and other essential services.”

Among the flagship projects he highlighted were the upgrade of the Ishiara–Kirie–Gikuyari Road to bitumen standard, the Mukanda Irrigation Project, and expanded rural electrification targeting off-grid communities. According to Ruku, these initiatives signal the end of marginalisation for regions like Mbeere North, which have historically been left behind.

“The era of neglect is over. What we are doing here is not rhetoric—it is delivery. This region is no longer a footnote; it is a priority,” he added.

Ruku also took a swipe at what he called "political noise" from rivals, urging residents to resist leaders who offer only "theatrics and slogans" without results. “Our people want meaningful change. Development speaks louder than empty politics,” he said.

The UDA candidate, Leonard Muriuki, emerged as a front-runner after securing unified backing from seven other aspirants who dropped their ambitions to support him.

Among them were prominent names like Embu County Assembly Speaker Josiah Thiriku, former Assembly Speaker Kariuki Mate, and former MP Muriuki Njagagua.

Their decision to unite behind Muriuki reflects a deliberate strategy by UDA to keep the seat within the ruling party and assert dominance in the region.

Meanwhile, Newton Karish continues to enjoy high-profile backing from DP Gachagua’s inner circle, as well as from Muturi and Kivuti, both of whom are attempting political resurrections after falling out with President Ruto.

Their support for Karish is widely seen as an attempt to position themselves for influence ahead of 2027.

But CS Ruku was quick to caution the electorate not to fall for political spin disguised as regional loyalty. “Leadership is proven at the ballot, not through slogans. If they really believe they have the people, let them come to the ballot and face the voters,” he said.

Beyond political rivalry, Ruku also emphasised the importance of education in lifting the region out of poverty. “We can bring roads and electricity, but real change starts with our children. Education is the greatest equaliser,” he noted, urging parents to prioritise keeping their children in school.

As the campaigns enter their final stretch, the Mbeere North by-election has become more than a local affair; it is now a defining contest for political direction in Mt Kenya.

For Gachagua, it’s a test of relevance. For Ruto, it’s a measure of loyalty. For Kuria and Muturi, it’s an opportunity to prove they still matter. And for the people of Mbeere North, it’s a choice between rhetoric and results.

The ballot in Mbeere North may elect one MP, but it could also reshape alliances, reputations, and the region’s political future ahead of the 2027 general election.