Tension is rising in Embu as former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s political desperation takes an alarming turn. Sources on the ground reveal that Gachagua and his allies are using chaos and incitement to gain sympathy ahead of the upcoming Mbeere North by-election.
On Saturday, clashes broke out in Embu, leaving several people injured. According to local reports, the violence was orchestrated by two rival groups allegedly sent by Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji—one of Gachagua’s closest allies. The plan, insiders claim, was to create confusion and later blame the unrest on Governor Cecily Mbarire’s camp to portray her as intolerant and violent.
“It’s unfortunate that political leaders are using ordinary citizens to stage-manage chaos for political gain,” said a local official who witnessed the incident. “The people fighting are not politicians — they are boda boda riders and youth who are being used to advance selfish interests.”
Observers say Gachagua’s desperation to remain politically relevant after impeachment has pushed him into reckless territory. His camp views Mbeere North as a must-win seat to prove he still commands influence in Embu and the larger Mt. Kenya region.
However, his tactics are drawing criticism from leaders who accuse him of trying to manipulate public sympathy through conflict. “This is not leadership. It’s political theatre at the expense of peace,” one Embu elder said.
Analysts warn that Gachagua’s increasingly combative approach could destabilize the region. “He is trying to revive his image by creating victims and villains — but it’s the ordinary citizens who pay the price,” noted a political commentator.
The violence in Mbeere is a tragic reminder that politics built on bitterness and desperation will always hurt the very people it claims to represent.
