CS Ruku accuses Gachagua of buying ID cards in UDA’s Mbeere North strongholds
By Mabonga Makhanu, November 19, 2025Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of resorting to purchasing identity cards belonging to people in areas where United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party candidate Leonard Muriuki has his stronghold in the Mbeere North by-election.
While speaking during a roadside rally aimed at popularising support for their candidate on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, the CS said that Gachagua’s team had resorted to desperate means to win the hotly contested by-election that is hardly a week away.
“Mimi nimesikia kuna watu ati wameanza kununua IDs, kuna watu wamekuja hapa Mbeere North, wamepiga watu fimbo, mmechokora kina mama, mmewafukuza, mmeanza mpango wa kununua National Identification Card kwa mahali tuko stronghold,” Ruku said.
Also watch: CS Ruku accuses Gachagua of buying ID cards in UDA’s Mbeere North strongholds
He went on to tell the former deputy president that he would not succeed in his plan to suppress UDA’s voter turnout so that his candidate, Newton Karish, would overshadow UDA’s candidate in areas where the party had the majority support.
“Mimi nakwambia wewe Riggy G, wewe na candidate wako, tumekaa hii Mbeere miaka mingi, tumetafuta kura Mbeere miaka mingi, hiyo mbinu haitaenda mahali popote,” Ruku said.
This comes at a time when both camps are conducting last-minute campaigns aimed at popularising their candidates ahead of next week’s by-election.
Both the government side and the United Opposition have hit the ground running to ensure they secure victory in the poll, which is expected to act as a litmus test for the 2027 general election.
The former DP has vowed to stay in the constituency until his candidate, Newton Karish, is sworn in as MP.
He has been conducting early-morning signature walks, moving from house to house to persuade Mbeere North voters to support Karish.
The UDA party has deployed all its machinery, with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and CS Geoffrey Ruku leading the campaigns in the constituency.
ID scenario in Malava
The issue of buying identity cards has become a matter of contention in the upcoming mini polls.
Recently, Democratic Action Party (DAP) Leader Eugene Wamalwa came up with similar accusations, but he blamed the government for being behind the plot in Malava.
While speaking during an interview with a local radio station on Friday, November 15, 2025, he singled out Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen as being behind the plot to suppress voter turnout by using local administrators to buy and take away ID cards belonging to Malava locals who appear to support Seth Panyako.
“Nataka nitoe ilani kwa ma chief wetu kwa sababu Murkomen alikuwa anaita machifu, na wanataka kuanza intimidation ya chiefs, ati wapewe pesa alafu ati wapee watu pesa ati wanunue ID cards. Ukiwa mpiga kura wa Malava, huwezi piga kura bila ID. Ukiona mtu anakuja kwako anataka kitambukuisho chako, anataka kupunguza kura ya Panyako,” Wamalwa said.