End the denial. The battles in Malava Constituency in Kakamega County and Mbeere North in Embu are a battle royale between impeached DP Rigathi Gachagua and his former boss, President William Ruto.
Gachagua looks set to fill the huge shoes left by Raila Odinga as the opposition leader.
The sideshow in Mbeere is between Professor Kithure Kindiki and Gachagua, though that seems far-fetched.
In Mbeere North, the seat was held by Geoffrey Ruku (on a DP ticket). He vacated it to join the Cabinet after successfully leading the prosecution against Gachagua in the impeachment trial.
Gachagua’s overall strategy is to hit back at his former boss, weaken him in the Mt Kenya region, and force himself into consideration as a serious presidential candidate against Ruto in future.
The violence witnessed in various places is an indication of the extremely high stakes in these by-elections — the first to be conducted by the reconstituted IEBC.
UDA has conducted a vigorous campaign to retain its seats while also attempting to capture new ground in Ukambani.
Celebrated Kibwezi MP Mwengi Mutuse has been leading the campaigns in Ukambani against Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
In Malava, it is a do-or-die battle for ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula. They will be considered failures if they lose the seat to the opposition.
Mudavadi has activated a decent campaign that should see UDA cross the line, but an upset cannot be ruled out as Bonny Khalwale, Eugene Wamalwa, and George Natembeya have all camped there in an attempt to finish the job.
Two of the losers in the Malava UDA primaries have since been appointed to diplomatic service posts in a bid to appease them.
