Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged all Mbeere North residents to head to the constituency tallying centres after casting their votes at their respective polling stations.

While speaking during a press briefing by the United Opposition at the SKM Command Centre in Nairobi on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, he urged the Mbeere North locals not to allow their will to be subverted by the state, preventing them from ending up with leaders they do not want.

According to Gachagua, his call for Mbeere North residents to proceed to the constituency tallying centre in Siakago is aimed at guarding their vote and ensuring that the Democratic candidate in the Mbeere North by-elections, Newton Karish, secures a legitimate win and is not rigged by the state.

Also watch: Kalonzo warns against election manipulation, questions IEBC ballot printing

“I want to urge all residents of Mbeere North to proceed to the tallying centre once voting is over so as to protect our votes,” Gachagua said.

He went on to urge all agents from his side in Mbeere North not to allow voting to take place until all agents inside the polling station have been frisked for firearms, and that only uniformed police officers should be allowed inside the polling station with firearms.

According to Gachagua, there is a plan by the state to introduce plainclothes police officers to stuff ballot boxes with already marked papers.

He continued to state that these firearms are intended to intimidate agents aligned to the United Opposition so as to carry out their murky activities that would ensure their candidates win.

Gachagua also urged Mbeere North residents not to leave polling stations but to keep a watchful eye on the proceedings and record any suspicious activity but to proceed to the tallying centre once business is done at their voting areas.

IEBC warning

This comes a day after IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan, in the company of the Returning Officer John Kinyua, defied the order from opposition leaders urging their supporters to remain at the polling stations.

They told voters that they should go home once they have exercised their democratic duty, saying it is unlawful to stay around the polling station after voting, as it hampers the work of electoral officers.

Watch: IEBC reacts to Gachagua urging voters to remain at polling centres after voting

They also assured Mbeere North residents of a free and fair election, noting that there will be observers, media, and other agencies witnessing the elections, and that there is no need to remain at the polling station.

The same message was echoed by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who warned that any attempt by a voter to remain at a polling station after voting is not allowed and that voters should proceed home.