By The Weekly Vision Reporter
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has rolled out a vigorous door-to-door campaign in Mbeere North in a determined effort to prise the parliamentary seat from President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Despite earlier threats by some UDA supporters to disrupt his tour of the constituency, Gachagua began his campaign on Saturday by visiting the grandmother of Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku, where he was served breakfast.
Sources revealed that Ruku, the immediate former area MP, who was giving a morning interview on a local TV station, was forced to rush to the constituency for damage control, but by then, Gachagua had already left the home.
Gachagua, who is the leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), is campaigning for the Democratic Party’s Newton Karish under the United Opposition banner.
In a post on his X handle after a morning walk, which he popularised in his Mathira backyard while serving as DP, Gachagua described Mbeere North residents as hardworking and expressed confidence that they would vote for Karish on 27th November.
“The villagers in Mbeere North are awake and hardworking. They are looking forward to the 27th November 2025 vote for Newton Karish. I am with the villagers every step of the way, one by one, home by home, village by village, in a movement to liberate our nation, Kenya. I had an interactive experience during my morning walk on a vote drive for my favourite candidate, Newton Karish, who is a people-centred candidate,” wrote the former DP, who is determined to lock Ruto and UDA out of the Mt Kenya region after his impeachment last October.
On Saturday, he posted: “My morning walk through mango farms in Mbeere North has been nothing but exhilarating and breathtaking. I combined my pursuit of good health with a one-on-one campaign for Newton Karish, my candidate of choice for the Mbeere North parliamentary by-election. I met my fellow villagers in their homes to commission the door-to-door campaign. I am greatly encouraged by the response and the assurance by residents that they cannot sell their vote, no matter the price. For the next nine days, I am on the ground, listening to and engaging the people of Mbeere North.”
Karish will face off against UDA’s Leo Muriuki Muthende and Duncan Mbui of Chama Cha Kazi.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that President Ruto summoned Ruku and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire on Monday, 17th November, during which he is said to have given them a dressing-down for failing to counter the Gachagua wave despite having assured him that they would lock him out of the constituency.
The President is said to have resolved that Deputy President Kithure Kindiki will henceforth take over the campaigns as they enter the homestretch.
