Why Governor Mbarire is under siege

Embu Governor and UDA chairperson Cecily Mbarire is under pressure, as forces within the ruling party push for her ouster.

The infighting in the party became clear on Madaraka Day, when an angry Mbarire said a senior official in the government was holding night meetings in the county to undermine her.

Without mentioning names, the infuriated governor said some officials from Nairobi were travelling to her county to undermine her in collaboration with some local leaders.

"I am the UDA party national chairperson and if there is anyone who has suffered because of supporting the government, it is me. But I have noticed there are people who have started plotting against me, and they are inside the government that I fight for daily.

“Those officers from Nairobi who are coming to Embu to hold night meetings to fight elected leaders have no respect, pretending they understand Embu politics more than we do," Mbarire said.

Although the governor did not mention names, she said she will start speaking if they did not stop interfering with her leadership.

Insiders, however, say the fight is between Mbarire and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who is under pressure to win back the restive Mt Kenya region support for President William Ruto.

Mbarire is accused of failing to mobilise support for President Ruto in her backyard — where he has been booed twice — despite her senior rank in the party.

Kindiki first accused Mbarire of this during a meeting with opinion shapers from Tharaka Nithi, in which he questioned her relevance in the party.

"I spoke to my sister the Governor of Embu not as the Deputy President of Kenya but as a brother and age mate. I asked her, Governor, how is it possible [that] you are the national chairperson of UDA, and you're a UDA governor and your party leader, the President, comes to your home town and is heckled? What reasons do we have to have you onboard? How is that possible?" Kindiki asked.

Mbarire did not respond to the salvo, but sources indicate the infighting has been brewing, and her tenure as chairperson is on the balance.

Notably, Mbarire was conspicuously absent during DP Kindiki’s visit to Embu on Friday. County officials say she had not been informed of Kindiki's impromptu tour, indicating tensions between the two leaders.

The governor was absent when President William Ruto convened a meeting with governors at State House on Wednesday.

This was just a day after Mbarire and Kindiki met at his Karen office and later in the day dispelled claims of a rift between them.

“There is no problem whatsoever between me and Governor Cecily Mbarire or any other leader in Embu County,” Kindiki asserted.

UDA national organising secretary Vincent Musau alias Kawaya (MP, Mwala), however, told the Star they are yet to discuss any issue regarding the removal of Mbarire, terming the claims as rumours.

Musau said the fight between Mbarire and the said “senior government officials” is not a party issue but a struggle for control of the region they come from.

Acknowledging Mbarire as a sober, veteran and hardworking politician, Kawaya said the governor is asserting her position in the region, and the other quarters are also seeking to shine. 

“There are many variables in politics. Some are regional, control of regions and interests. When you have individuals with high political value from the region, this kind of friction is expected as the leaders fight for power and control. Even where I come from, there a individuals am jostling with for the interests of today and tomorrow,”  Musau said.

He added that no NEC member has a problem with government officials, as far as he is aware.

"When that agenda comes before NEC, I will be the first one to inform you. For now, that [the ouster] is yet to be discussed," he told the Star.

Reacting to Mbarire’s outburst,  Kakamega Senator and Senate Majority Whip Boni Khalwale alluded to the infighting in the party, urging her to move on as it was a continuation of previous actions.

“Out of the blues, Governor Mbarire was elevated to the national chairman and Cleophas Malala was plucked from ANC party becoming the Secretary General of UDA. Ostensibly, this was to get rid of Sen Muthama and teach Dr Boni Khalwale a lesson, both who were founder members of UDA. UDA is now in a spin!” he said in post on X.

Lawyer and political commentator Wahome Thuku opines that Mbarire has decided to bolt out of the Kenya Kwanza government and she won't wait to be culled.

“She has decided to stir up the hornet's nest so as to exit in acrimony. Drama has started. It's just a matter of days before you hear DCI or the EACC have arrested her and that she is to be charged," Wahome noted.

He added that powers within the UDA party may have already decided that the UDA national chairperson should not be a Kikuyu or from Embu when the communities have left the party en masse.

“I think that is the message that someone is trying to send the chair[person] and it's working,” Wahome added.

The infighting further places the UDA party at a crossroads at a time it has lost popularity in Mt Kenya region, one of its key vote bases in its last election.

Further implosion would a huge win for impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who is building his DCP outfit and is seeking to get as much support as possible from members of UDA.