President William Ruto has met with Mbeere North MP-elect Leonard Wa Muthende at State House, Nairobi, following a bruising campaign and tightly contested by-election held last Thursday.
In his capacity as United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party leader, Ruto hosted Muthende alongside other newly elected lawmakers for a joint breakfast with ODM leader Oburu Odinga ahead of their swearing-in in Parliament.
The meeting at State House brought together seven legislators elected in the recent by-elections,including Baringo Senator Kiprono Chemitei, MPs Maalim Hassan (Banisa), David Ndakwa (Malava), Moses Omondi (Ugunja), Boyd Were (Kasipul), Harrison Kombe (Magarini) of ODM, and Muthende of UDA.
The breakfast meeting was preceded by a text message invitation to the newly elected MPs, which read in part: “In recognition of your efforts and to keep the fire burning, I wish to invite all of you for a breakfast meeting with our Party Leader, Senator Oburu Oginga.”
The invitation was followed by a phone call informing MPs that they would meet first at Orange House before proceeding to State House for the joint breakfast with UDA counterparts.
The invite was also extended to candidates from allied parties who were unsuccessful in the elections.
“May I heartily congratulate those who emerged victorious. I also wish to commend those who didn’t get elected as I encourage you to keep our banner high as we gear up for the general elections in 20 months’ time,” the message added.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), paving the way for their official swearing-in when Parliament resumes sittings later today, gazetted the seven lawmakers yesterday.
The by-election in Mbeere North was a high-stakes and bruising contest. The main contenders, Muthende of UDA and Newton Kariuki, popularly known as “Karis,” of the Democratic Party (DP), were locked in a razor-thin race.
After votes were tallied on November 27, 2025, Muthende was declared the winner with 15,802 votes, narrowly surpassing Karis, who garnered 15,308 votes — a margin of just 494 votes.
The contest became more than a local electoral battle; it was a proxy for national political influence, with powerful blocs backing each candidate.
The campaign was marked by heightened tension, accusations of vote-buying, intimidation, and chaotic polling stations. The narrow victory highlighted the deep polarisation within the constituency, reflecting a divided yet politically engaged electorate.
Ruto’s meeting with Muthende underscores the ruling party’s commitment to consolidating its victories and maintaining cohesion among its elected leaders as the country heads toward the 2027 general elections.
