EMBU, Kenya- A political showdown is taking shape in Mbeere North ahead of the Member of County Assembly (MCA) by-elections scheduled for February 26, 2026, with Evurore and Muminji wards emerging as critical battlegrounds in the wider contest for power, relevance and momentum in Mount Kenya East politics.
The stakes have been raised by a series of high-level political meetings led by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, signalling that the Kenya Kwanza administration is treating the contests as strategically significant despite their county-level status.
On Wednesday afternoon, January 7, 2026, Kindiki hosted UDA MCA aspirants for Evurore and Muminji wards at his official Karen residence in Nairobi.
The meeting brought together the aspirants alongside UDA National Chairperson and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire and Mbeere North MP Leo Wamuthende.
The engagement formed part of final preparations for the UDA party primaries set for Saturday, January 10, 2026, which will determine the party’s official flag-bearers for the February by-elections.
Less than 24 hours later, on Thursday morning, January 8, 2026, the Deputy President convened another meeting at his Mukothima home in Tharaka Nithi County, this time with political leaders from the broader Mount Kenya East region.
The discussions focused on strategies to secure victory in the upcoming by-elections, underlining the high political value attached to what are officially “minor” county contests.
The back-to-back meetings appear to confirm that the Kenya Kwanza administration is not taking any election lightly, regardless of scale.
Coming on the heels of UDA’s victory in the recent Mbeere South MP by-election, where the ruling party defeated the United Opposition, the State is keen to consolidate its grip on Embu County and entrench its dominance across Mount Kenya East.
For the government, Evurore and Muminji are more than just wards.
They are political barometers. A clean sweep would reinforce the narrative of a ruling coalition firmly in control, while any slip could expose underlying tensions within State power structures and elite unity.
Deputy President Kindiki’s hands-on involvement also highlights his expanding role as the chief political mobiliser for Mount Kenya East, positioning him as a central anchor of the region within government.
Crowded Field in Evurore, Narrow Race in Muminji
Evurore Ward has attracted a crowded field of UDA hopefuls, reflecting the ward’s political weight.
Among the notable aspirants are Catherine Mururi; James Mwaniki Nthiga, popularly known as Mwaniki wa Mwonere; Duncan Muratia Nyaga, alias Mukangu Junior; Boniface Kariuki Ngari; Albert Kigoro, who resigned as Deputy Director Liaison with the Embu County Government on December 22, 2025, to vie for the seat; Benson Mwaniki, a former personal assistant to former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti; and Isaac Mwenda, alias Nthitiraga.
In contrast, Muminji Ward currently has Boniface Kariuki Ngari as the only known UDA aspirant.
Both wards will go to the polls on February 26, 2026, following the resignation of their former MCAs in November 2025 to contest the Mbeere North parliamentary by-election.
Gachagua Factor and Opposition Calculations
One of the most intriguing dynamics shaping the by-elections is the reported decision by Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) not to field candidates.
While no official statement has been issued, the silence itself has become politically instructive.
On one reading, staying out may be a tactical calculation.
MCA by-elections rarely reshape national politics, and engaging in a State-backed contest risks a bruising defeat that could further erode DCP’s standing.
Avoidance, in this sense, shields the party from another public loss and preserves political capital for future contests.
On another level, the decision can be interpreted as an attempt by Gachagua to maintain political relevance following the United Opposition’s defeat in the Mbeere South MP by-election.
By sitting out, he avoids another direct test of his influence in a region where momentum increasingly appears to favour UDA and the State.
However, Gachagua’s absence also risks being read as political retreat.
In Mount Kenya East, visibility, mobilisation and grassroots presence remain core political currency, and staying off the ballot may reinforce perceptions of waning influence.
Opposition Eyes an Opening
While DCP appears hesitant, opposition forces are unlikely to vacate the field entirely.
Sources indicate that parties aligned with the opposition, including Lenny Kivuti’s MBUS party, are considering fielding candidates in both wards.
For MBUS and other opposition outfits, Evurore and Muminji offer an opportunity to chip away at State dominance, mobilise disgruntled voters and position themselves as credible local alternatives.
With typically low voter turnout, MCA by-elections often reward focused, ground-level campaigns, where local grievances, service delivery, youth unemployment, development promises and perceptions of fairness in resource allocation can outweigh national party loyalty.
More Than Local Seats
Beyond party symbols, the contests will be shaped by hyper-local dynamics, and turnout will be decisive.
The side that best energises its base could punch well above its weight.
The broader implications are unmistakable. The results will be read as a referendum on political realignment in Mount Kenya East, the effectiveness of State machinery, and the opposition’s ability to regroup after recent setbacks.
As February approaches, Evurore and Muminji are fast becoming symbolic battlegrounds — small wards carrying outsized political meaning.
Whether early State mobilisation delivers victory, whether the opposition can stage a surprise, and whether Gachagua’s strategic absence proves wise or costly will all shape the evolving power narrative in the region.
What may appear as routine MCA by-elections could, in reality, offer the clearest snapshot yet of who is gaining ground, who is retreating, and who is merely buying time in Mount Kenya East’s fast-shifting political landscape.
