UDA candidate Leo Wamuthende has been officially declared the new Member of Parliament for Mbeere North constituency following a fiercely contested by-election held on November 27, 2025, edging out closest challenger Newton Karish, who mounted a strong campaign right until the final tally. UDA’s Leo Wamuthende garners 15,802 votes to defeat DP’s Newton Kariuki who got 15,308 votes.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission announced Wamuthende as the winner at the Siakago Boys tallying centre, bringing to an end weeks of intense political activity in the Embu County seat that fell vacant after the rise of incumbent MP Geoffrey Ruku to CS position.
Wamuthende, a senior manager making his first attempt at elective politics, ran on a bottom-up economic platform that heavily emphasised completion of stalled water projects, tarmacking of the Kiritiri-Karaba road, and establishment of a constituency industrial park.
Supporters erupted in celebration across Siakago town after the tally shown Wamuthende’s win, with motorbike convoys and roadside dances continuing well into the night.
Newton Karish, the independent candidate who enjoyed quiet backing from a section of Azimio leaders, claims that the process was married with iregularities.
Karish thanked Mbeere North residents for the massive turnout and promised to remain active in community development even outside Parliament. Political observers described the race as one of the tightest by-elections in recent Embu history, with the two frontrunners exchanging leads throughout the night as results streamed in from the 134 polling stations.
The campaign period had been marked by high-voltage rallies, with President William Ruto personally leading UDA campaigns on two occasions while Raila Odinga sent senior lieutenants to drum up support for Karish.
Money and development promises flowed freely, with both sides accusing each other of voter bribery and misuse of government machinery. Despite the charged atmosphere, voting day remained largely peaceful, with only minor incidents of campaign materials being torn at Mavuria and Ishiara markets.
Women and youth formed the backbone of Wamuthende’s campaign structure. The UDA candidate promised to sponsor at least 500 youths for technical courses annually and to lobby for the revival of the stalled Gachuriri irrigation scheme that affects over 8,000 farming households.
Karish, on the other hand, focused heavily on health and education, pledging to build a Level 4 hospital in Kiritiri and equip all secondary schools with modern laboratories.
IEBC officials commended Mbeere North voters for the orderly conduct and high participation, especially in remote areas like Mavuria and Ntharawe that traditionally record low turnout.
The electoral body also confirmed that electronic voter identification kits worked smoothly throughout the exercise, eliminating previous complaints about system failures.
He takes over a constituency still grappling with water scarcity, poor road networks, and rising youth unemployment despite its strategic location along the Thuci River.
Political analysts say the Mbeere North result strengthens UDA’s grip on the lower Eastern region ahead of 2027 while serving as a wake-up call to the party against complacency in its strongholds.
For Newton Karish, the narrow defeat has positioned him as a formidable contender should he choose to run again in the next general election. As Wamuthende settles into his new role, residents are already lining up with memos on stalled projects, hopeful that campaign promises will translate into tangible development in the coming months.
