Ruku: Why UDA must win Mbeere North seat

Cabinet Secretary Public service Geoffrey Ruku who was the former Mbeere North member of parliament. [Photo: Edward Kiplimo,Standard] Thank you for making time. Let's begin with the big question. Why has the Mbeere North by-election become such a high-stakes political contest for the Kenya Kwanza administration? Because Mbeere North is not like other constituencies. It is a deeply marginalised region historically ignored, economically starved, and politically overlooked. For decades our people have struggled with water scarcity, poor roads, unreliable electricity, and low school enrollment. President Ruto's government has finally put this area on the map by investing in infrastructure, water projects and energy rollout. Now, when you reach such a turning point, you cannot afford to elect an MP who is fighting the government. You must elect someone who will work with the government to fast-track these interventions. That is why the seat matters not for politics, but for survival. The race is crowded. How many candidates are we talking about? Very many. People assume it is a two-horse race between UDA and DP. That is not true. We have Leonard Wamudende running under UDA. The Democratic Party which sponsored me before I joined UDA is fronting Newton Karish. You also have Duncan Bowie of Chama Cha Kazi, Lauren Zereri of Safina, Seymour Nwaiharo of Umoja na Mandalayo Party, plus several independents: Isaac Moringe, Albert Ngari, Daniel Ngari, Robert Ngeru, Ruben Ngeru. It is a long list. But the people of Mbeere North know what they want. Many candidates are simply noise. The people will sift through that noise and choose the person capable of delivering development. Let's clarify something that has created confusion. Were you still a member of the Democratic Party until recently? No. I am no longer a member of DP. When did you leave the party? It is my constitutional right to belong to a political party or to leave one. I exercised that right. I left DP and joined UDA. Simple. Why UDA? Because political parties are simply vehicles to deliver community interests. The people of Mbeere North want development, not noise, not insults, and not endless theatrics. UDA is the vehicle through which President Ruto is transforming the country. And we have already seen serious investments flowing into Mbeere North. But historically, Mbeere North has never been a stronghold for any one party. Why is that? Because Mbeere North votes based on interests, not party. Let me give you a brief history. In 1992, we elected an MP from a party nobody in Kenya knew. In 1995 during the by-election, we voted for Kanu not because of ideology, but because they promised us a district. They delivered that district. In the 1997 election, we voted DP, while in 1999, in another by-election, we went back to Kanu. In 2002 election, the entire country was swept by the Narc wave, but we voted for Safina. So you see, Mbeere North does not move with political waves. We vote for the person who promises us tangible improvements. Parties do not move us. Development does. You've been vocal in supporting UDA's Leonard Wamudende. Why him? Because he is the most capable among all the candidates. I am not just supporting him because of party. I am supporting him because he understands legislation, budgeting, and parliamentary lobbying. Parliament is a battlefield; you need someone who can navigate Treasury, committees, and floor debates. Wamudende is academically strong; he has a first-class honours degree in biochemistry. Compare that with a musician being fronted by my opponents. Even Rigathi Gachagua has been telling people to elect professionals. Yet he comes here supporting someone who has never even stepped in a university classroom. You have criticised Gachagua's involvement in the race. What exactly do you disagree about? First, he and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka arrived here with no agenda for the people. They just came to shout about tribe and sideshows. They stood before our people and told them things that do not put water in their taps or food on their tables. Let's talk more on development. You've said President Ruto's government is already transforming the region. What progress has been witnessed so far? Roads are being upgraded, boreholes are being drilled, water reticulation systems are being rolled out, electricity connectivity is rising, and irrigation schemes have taken off. For the first time in decades, Mbeere North is not just hearing promises-we are seeing action. But development is not magic. It requires lobbying. It requires an MP who can wake up, walk into the committee rooms, knock on doors, and negotiate allocations. Some people point out a contradiction in your arguments. On one hand you say President Ruto distributes development fairly across the country. On the other hand, you say an MP aligned with the government gets more. Which way? Both are true, but context matters. President Ruto is fair. He believes development must reach all corners of Kenya. And indeed, projects are happening everywhere-across parties, across regions. But let us be honest about how government works, not just here but globally; resources are limited. Government cannot fund everything at once. So there is lobbying, negotiation, and prioritization. That is why supplementary budgets exist. An MP aligned with the government can push harder and secure more attention. That is the reality. So yes, the President is fair. But the MP must know how to navigate the system. You also often talk about your own upbringing. Did it shape your politics? Absolutely. My father died while I was in Form Four. My mother struggled for years to pay my university fees. I know the pain of poverty. I know the shame of being sent home for school fees. That is why, when I became MP, I ensured that no child in a day secondary school paid fees. None. Because our community is very poor, and unless we invest in education, we will remain trapped. That is also why I support Wamudende. He understands policy. He understands the power of a good CDF programme. He understands that our people are not wealthy. You've labelled this by-election a battle for the constituency's future. Why? Because we are at a moment of transition. The government has already begun investing. But whether that momentum continues depends on who becomes MP. If we elect someone who cannot articulate our needs, we lose. If we elect someone who fights the government every day, we lose. If we elect entertainers, we lose. But if we elect Wamudende-someone who knows how the system works; then the development we have long prayed for will continue. Your final message to voters ahead of November 27 Mbeere North has always voted wisely. On November 27, they will choose water over insults, electricity over noise, food over tribalism, and development over theatrics. This by-election is not a political contest, it is a decision between progress and stagnation. And I believe our people will choose progress.

Ruku: Why UDA must win Mbeere North seat

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