Tension rose in Mbeere North on Thursday morning, November 27, 2025, after Chama Cha Kazi (CCK) party leader Moses Kuria claimed that polling agents heading to their stations were attacked.

Kuria, who posted the claims on X, said goons had targeted the agents on their way to various polling centres as voting opened in the by-election.

“Goons attacking polling agents on their way to polling Centres in Mbeere North,” he posted.

His post came at a sensitive moment, with both the government and the Opposition trading accusations throughout the week over plans to disrupt the polls. The by-election, viewed as one of the most competitive races in the country today, has drawn intense scrutiny from political leaders and election observers.

On Wednesday, the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) accused the Opposition of plotting chaos in Mbeere North. Speaking in Embu, UDA Party Chairperson Cecily Mbarire claimed unnamed Opposition groups had ferried people into the constituency to cause tension and interfere with voting.

She also claimed cases of voter bribery in Kanyuambora, Ishiara and nearby areas. Mbarire urged the IEBC to act against what she called brazen attempts to influence the outcome of the poll.

“Tumeskia kuna watu wamepanga wahuni kutoka sehemu mbalimbali ya Kenya, ambao wameletwa kwa wingi na our opposition,” she said.

Her remarks were supported by Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku, who accused the Opposition of serious provocation in the run-up to voting day. Ruku said there were people who had been injured in clashes earlier in the week.

“We want to condemn the goons who have terrorised residents of Mbeere North,” he said, adding that one victim had undergone knee surgery at Embu Level 5 Hospital after an alleged attack.

The Opposition, however, has strongly dismissed those claims. Instead, it has accused the government of planning to rig the by-election through ballot stuffing. On Wednesday evening, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua and DAP-K’s Eugene Wamalwa held a joint press briefing where they claimed an elaborate plan to manipulate votes.

According to them, the government intended to use plain-clothes officers and hired groups to create confusion during voting. They claimed this distraction would allow compromised officials to sneak pre-marked ballot papers into boxes in Mbeere North, Malava and Magarini.

Kalonzo climed that 15,000 pre-marked ballots had been sent to Mbeere North alone, with a further 10,000 destined for Malava.

“We have credible information that the serialisation of some ballot papers was not done correctly. This has created a loophole for ballot stuffing. In total, 30,000 re-marked ballots have already been dispatched,” he said.

Opposition warns of interference

Gachagua accused the IEBC of working with government agencies to tilt the outcome of the vote. He said the Opposition had deployed agents to all battleground polling stations to monitor the process.

“It is now clear to us that the IEBC is compromised. We will not allow armed plain-clothes officers inside polling stations. Our agents have been told to insist on frisking before voting begins,” he said.

The Opposition also warned the IEBC against allowing truckloads of supporters to crowd tallying centres, arguing that such gatherings had been used in the past to intimidate agents during counting.

The National Police Service, anticipating possible unrest, issued a warning on Wednesday against interference in the by-elections. The police said security had been strengthened in all 24 areas holding polls and urged politicians to avoid inciting supporters.

IEBC Chairperson Ethokon Edong also cautioned candidates and party agents against showing up with groups that could disrupt tallying. He said the commission would enforce access rules strictly.