A pair of dramatic weekend “attacks” has thrust the Mbeere North by-election into national spotlight, with allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua escalating claims of persecution they say mirror his impeachment saga — a narrative now central to his political comeback.
The first incident erupted Saturday in Kabuchai, Bungoma County, where Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya’s convoy was stoned and shots fired as he campaigned for independent MCA candidate Eric Wekesa. Vehicles were torched, supporters scattered and Natembeya briefly took cover — footage that has since raised questions over the sequence of events and whether the chaos was spontaneous or choreographed.
Natembeya accused National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula of orchestrating the violence to intimidate opposition allies. DAP-K leaders demanded IEBC intervention. Wetang’ula’s camp dismissed the allegations as political theatre.
Barely a day later, tension shifted to Embu. Speaking at a church service in Siakago, Gachagua claimed a knife-wielding man sent by Public Service CS Justin Ruku attempted to attack him. Aides restrained the suspect as Gachagua denounced what he called “Ruto’s desperate bid to silence dissent.”
Ruku rejected the claim as “pure fiction” and urged police to investigate.
DCP secretary general Cleophas Malala has since woven both incidents into a sweeping narrative of revenge and political betrayal. Gachagua — impeached last year on graft charges he terms “state-engineered” — has camped in Mbeere accusing government operatives of using Sh600 million to buy IDs to rig the race in favour of UDA’s Leonard Wamuthende.
kenyans, however, smell stage-managed sympathy, recalling similar theatrics during the Malava by-poll in July. With Deputy President Kithure Kindiki counter-mobilising, the contest has morphed into a proxy battle for Mt Kenya’s 2027 political direction.
As the November 27 vote looms, voters in Bungoma and Embu now sift fear from fiction — wary that this time, the theatrics could spill into real violence.
