CS Ruku Slams Muturi, Kivuti Over Vote Rigging Claims Ahead of Mbeere North By-Election

Speaking at Cianyi in Mbeere North during the launch of a government school feeding program, Ruku dismissed the allegations as baseless and likened them to “crocodile tears” from leaders already sensing defeat.

The Cabinet Secretary accused the two leaders of engaging in propaganda meant to incite panic and discredit a democratic process they feared would not go in their favor.

He reiterated that neither the government nor the UDA party had any intentions or plans to interfere with the electoral process, asserting that the people of Mbeere North had already made their choice.

Ruku claimed that the electorate in the constituency had settled on UDA’s Leonard Muthende as their preferred candidate, and no amount of political noise would alter that decision.

“Let them stop crying that there are people planning to rig the election in November,” he stated, urging Muturi and Kivuti to accept the political reality on the ground.

He further accused the two leaders of peddling falsehoods instead of selling their candidate’s agenda, adding that their tactics were signs of desperation.

Ruku said the UDA candidate was actively engaging with the people, sharing his manifesto, and receiving overwhelming support; a fact he said should not “unsettle” his political opponents.

He urged the DP and DEP leaders to focus on campaigning for their candidate, Newton Karish, instead of distracting voters with baseless accusations.

Ruku emphasized that Mbeere North stands to benefit more by aligning with the government, arguing that the Opposition has historically offered the region nothing but rhetoric.

He reminded residents that both Kivuti and Muturi had previously served as Members of Parliament and that the time had come for fresh leadership and ideas.

“Let the people of Mbeere North go,” Ruku said, calling on the Opposition to stop dragging the constituency into political battles that do not serve its development agenda.

The CS also encouraged young people in the region to register as voters ahead of the 2027 general elections, stating that participation in democracy begins with voter registration.

His sentiments were echoed by former Mbeere North MP Muriuki Njagagua, who dismissed recent claims by leaders such as Kivuti and Muturi as signs of desperation and panic. Njagagua emphasized that no vote rigging was being planned, adding that only duly registered voters from Mbeere North will participate in the election.

As political temperatures rise ahead of the November by-election, the contest is shaping up to be a major showdown between Ruku, backing UDA’s Muthende, and Muturi and Kivuti, supporting Newton Karish under the DP banner.

Over the weekend, both Justin Muturi and Lenny Kivuti alleged that individuals were being registered as voters outside Embu County with the intention of being brought in to vote in the Mbeere North by-election. They claimed this was part of a wider scheme to manipulate the outcome of the election in favor of the UDA candidate.