Mbeere North has witnessed a fresh surge of political tension after Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku publicly refuted claims by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that he had visited Ruku’s grandmother’s home during campaign rounds.
Speaking at a rally in Mbeere on Wednesday, November 19, CS Ruku dismissed the viral narrative as “fabricated lies” aimed at political manipulation.
“Riggy G, wewe unadanganya Wakenya ati umeingia kwa nyanya yangu kukunywa chai. Mimi sina mama, sina baba, na nyanya yangu sikumuona hata na macho,” Ruku told an animated crowd, emphasizing that both his parents and grandmother passed away years ago, making the rumors not only false but deeply insensitive.
The controversy erupted following Gachagua’s door-to-door campaign tour on Monday, November 17. Photos of the visits quickly circulated online, sparking speculation that one of the homes belonged to Ruku’s late grandmother, turning the narrative into a hot political talking point—until Ruku stepped in to set the record straight.
The clash intensifies the already heated atmosphere in Mbeere North ahead of the November 27 by-election, which has now become a battleground for two major camps:
United Democratic Alliance (UDA), led by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and backed by CS Ruku, supporting candidate Leonard Muthende.
Democratic Party (DP) and allied United Opposition figures, led by Gachagua, supporting Newton Karish.
Political analysts note that the “grandmother story” has become the latest flashpoint, reflecting simmering rivalries between Kindiki and Gachagua as they vie for influence in Mt Kenya’s shifting political landscape.
Deputy President Kindiki has pledged to remain in Mbeere until every vote is cast, while Gachagua has intensified his grassroots outreach, escalating the political contest.
The exchanges and heightened campaigns suggest the Mbeere North by-election will be among the most closely monitored mini-polls this year.
CS Ruku insists that Gachagua’s claims were a deliberate attempt to politicize his personal history, a line he says he will not allow to be crossed. As the campaigns enter their final phase, both camps are digging deep to win over the constituency’s voters, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown.
By K24 Digital