Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is facing his first turbulence in his newly formed party after Hon. Duncan Mbui, a frontrunner in the Mbeere North parliamentary by-election, declared he would contest as an independent.
The move came after the party reportedly ceded the seat to back Newton Karish, a Democratic Party candidate fronted by former Attorney General Justin Muturi.
Karish, better known in Embu as a musician behind the popular song Muthoni Kifagio, had initially expressed interest in the Senate race before pivoting to the constituency contest.
The decision has triggered divisions within the opposition coalition, with DCP’s chief mobiliser Hon. Mukunji announcing that he would throw his weight behind Mbui instead.
Analysts say the fallout risks weakening the United Opposition’s efforts to consolidate ground in Embu, a region seen as crucial in testing the Democratic Citizens Party’s (DCP) strength ahead of 2027.
In some analysts eyes, the division has UDA’s fingers all over it. Sort of like a guerilla attack to weaken the opposition influence in the region. Two weeks ago, Mukunji’s attempt to hold a rally for Mbui in the region was met by goons and police opposition, forcing the caravan to cancel their rally.
Mbui’s political muscle
Mbui is no ordinary contender. The Evurore Ward MCA commands a strong grassroots following in the most populous ward of Mbeere North, home to more than 28,000 registered voters.
By contrast, Nthawa has about 18,000 voters while Muminji has just over 9,000, giving Mbui a numerical advantage that makes him a formidable candidate.
His political career has been marked by resilience. In the 2022 general election, he sought the UDA ticket but lost controversially to Albert Kigoro, a close relative of Embu County Assembly Speaker Josiah Thiriku, who enjoyed the backing of then–National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi. Allegations of irregularities dogged the primaries.
Refusing to be sidelined, Mbui ran as an independent. On the ballot alongside Kigoro (UDA), Michael Ithaga (Mbus Party), and Duncan Mukangu (Jubilee), Mbui delivered an impressive performance.
He swept Evurore Ward with more than 8,000 votes, nearly doubling Kigoro’s tally of 3,800. Ithaga, backed by former senator Lenny Kivuti, managed only 800 votes.
The split between Karish and Mbui has laid bare the fragility of the opposition coalition. For Gachagua’s new party, the by-election is fast becoming a test of discipline, unity, and whether the movement can avoid factionalism.
