Leaders accuse Ruto of blocking their campaigns in Mbeere North

Opposition members have accused President William Ruto and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire of deploying police officers to disrupt, intimidate and stop them from doing their campaigns ahead of the November 27 Mbeere North by-elections, urging residents not to be cowed by their presence.

Led by DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua, they claimed Ruto and Mbarire are behind deployment of more than 1,000 police officers to disrupt a rally in Kanyuambora, which was to be conducted by the United Opposition principals.

Gachagua said that for three years, the governor has never set foot in Mbeere, accusing the residents of never voting for her, so she would punish them by imposing a leader on them.

“Mbarire, I know you are working in cahoots with Ruto. We know very well that you have a grudge with Mbeere people, you have been saying that they never voted for you thus you are punishing them. At least respect them and stop imposing leaders on them, they already have their own candidate, a candidate that they love with their hearts” said Gachagua.

The principals were speaking at the ACK church service, Mbeere North in Kanyuambora in support of Democratic Party (DP) candidate Newton Kariuki.

Gachagua said that: ‘‘There is no intimidation, fear that is going to be instilled in us that will make us not come to Mbeere, we are exercising our democratic right of campaigning for our candidate”.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka said there was a candidate who had approached him, but after consultations, they settled on one candidate who was supported by the United Opposition, and no money was paid to the party.

“Gachagua and I held a meeting with Mbeere elders (Justin Muturi and Lenny Kivuti) and we agreed on supporting one candidate as the United Opposition and that’s how we settled on Karis” DCP and wiper principals disclosed,” Kalonzo said.

Gachagua said Mbeere people have a chance to do what Kipipiri residents did in 1994 by-elections.

“History is repeating itself, we are supporting a DP candidate, being your leader I urge you to know that the fight is between Mbarire, Ruto and Mbeere people; the contest is simple the UDA candidate is just being used, he doesn’t even have a vote here, support your own,” Gachagua told congregants.

Gachagua alleged that Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku is being used together with Mbarire, saying that if UDA candidate loses, ‘‘Ruku you will come here in Mbeere a disgraced person’’.

“Why are you two causing violence against your people, whichever position you hold in office, remember that Muturi was once in government. UDA leaders, you are full of pride but your downfall is coming” Gachagua warned Ruku and Mbarire.

DAP-K party leader, Eugene Wamalwa, said that when he served under former President Uhuru Kenyatta regime, there was a by-election in Kiambaa where the current MP, John Kawanjiku, was voted in.

He added that the Mbeere North by-election will be a determinant in forming the next government ‘‘just like how Kenya Kwanza government was formed after the Kiambaa by-election during Uhuru’s regime after Kawanjiku’s victory.

“Kiambaa is in Mount Kenya and when Kawanjiku was elected, he was a determinant in forming the Kenya Kwanza government, so if Kariuki is elected, he will give the United Opposition direction on how to form the next government,” Wamalwa said.

Speaking in Kanyuambora trading centre after a church service, former the Attorney General — Justin Muturi — demanded to know how much will be used compensate victims of last year’s Gen-Z protests

‘‘As Kenyans we are waiting to know how much you as the president of Kenya is intending to pay families of Kenyans who died during the violence” said Muturi.

Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu urged President Ruto to heed to the calls done by the Church saying that he was a civilian and through the Church and he became the president.

“You became president through the Church, the men of the cloth have given their views and instead of listening to them, you are castigating and insulting them, listen to the people, being a high-headed individual is the start of your fall,” said Nyutu.

Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji said that there were plans to block the United Opposition from holding rallies or even attending a church services.

 ‘‘We were told that there were plans to block us from stepping foot in Mbeere North, this is to show that your candidate does not have friends, we had to stand with our candidate” said Mukunji,

“There are plans the police will be used to intimidate, threaten voters but be courageous like Mukunji, I was arrested and branded a terrorist, I said I will not be cowed, let us unite and forge ahead so that we vote for Kariuki as our MP,” Mukunji added.