Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has vowed to ensure that votes in the Mbeere North by-election are not tampered with, as he campaigns for Democratic Party candidate Newton Karish.

Speaking during a public engagement in Mbeere North, Embu County, on Sunday, November 23, 2025, Gachagua said he had a clear plan to protect the electorate.

“Kazi yenu ni kupiga kura mpige kura. Kazi ya kuchunga kura muwachie Riggy G na watu yake. Na msiogope. Mimi, kura ya Wambeere itaibiwa Riggy G akiwa wapi? Hawa Wambeere ni watu yangu. Sasa Wambeere wakipiga kura yao wapatie Karish, itaibiwa Riggy G akiwa wapi? Mimi niko hapa, na nimefanya mpango. Hakuna ata kura moja itapotea,” he said.

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Gachagua also noted the strong visibility of Mbeere culture on social media.

“I was looking at my phone early in the morning on TikTok; it’s only stories from Mbeere that I could see. Nothing else is there. Kenyans now know Kimbeere. I have seen some ladies sing Kimuri Kia Mbeere, others Wamuthendeko,” he said, praising local engagement with the region’s traditions.

He dismissed concerns about his busy campaign schedule, saying he had approval from senior figures to travel for by-elections elsewhere.

“Mimi niko area lakini nimepewa ruhusa na mzee Kivuti amenipatia ruhusa siku moja, nikimbie Narok. Iko by-election huko. Alafu nikimaliza nirudi. Nitatoka leo niende Narok ninyoroshe mkutano moja kubwa alafu nirudi hapa Mbeere,” he said.

The former Deputy President also directly challenged his opponents.

“So you where you have left to accomplish so that you can earn your respect is failing that Kasongo man, will you fail him? And we are asking you, Karinda, when we chase Kasongo to Sugoi, where will you go? And Muthende? So he is from Mombasa?”

Kindiki slams tea campaign

Gachagua’s campaign has attracted criticism from Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who described his door-to-door tea visits as culturally inappropriate. Speaking at the Kyenire People’s Forum in Evurore Ward.

“Sasa wale ndugu zangu wanazurura hapa na kunywa chai kwa kitchen ya kina mama. Waambiwe kwanza sisi hapa, wazee wa sehemu hii, hatuingiangi kitchen,” Kindiki said.

Also watch: Gachagua hits the ground running for Newton Karish in Mbeere North

Kindiki also said that Gachagua’s team carried their own tea instead of drinking what residents offered.

“Wawache kubeba chai kwa sababu wanaogopa kukunywa chai yetu, wanabeba chai yao wanakuja kunywa kwa mtu alafu wanasema wanakunywa chai kwetu,” he said, arguing that these gestures were less important than actual development.

The Mbeere North by-election, set for November 27, 2025, will fill the seat left vacant after MP Geoffrey Ruku joined the Cabinet. Both Karish and his UDA rival Leo wa Muthende see the vote as a key test of influence in Mount Kenya East, where political contests have national significance.

Gachagua concluded his message to voters with a call to action.

“Nataka mpige kura mapema. Hakuna ata kura moja itapotea. Wambeere, mpige kura yenu, mpatie Karish ushindi,” he said.