Muturi accuses UDA of voter bribery, intimidation in Mbeere North

By Newsflash Reporter

Democratic Party (DP) leader Justin B. Muturi has accused the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) of running a coordinated campaign of voter bribery, intimidation, and election interference ahead of the November 27 Mbeere North by-election.

In a protest letter dated November 20, 2025, and addressed to IEBC chairman Mr Erastus Ethekon, Muturi warned that the ruling party, aided by state officers, is allegedly ferrying armed groups into the constituency and bribing voters in a scheme designed to tilt the outcome of the poll. The letter was officially received by the commission on November 21.

Muturi, whose party is sponsoring a candidate in the by-election, says the actions of the UDA camp amount to a deliberate attempt to undermine the credibility of the vote and deny residents their constitutional right to choose their leader freely.

Muturi cites “imported goons”

In the letter, Muturi alleges that groups of armed men have been transported from Nairobi, Thika, and other nearby towns into Mbeere North. These groups, he says, are operating under the escort of National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) and plain-clothes police officers from Nairobi.

“We have information that there are already plans to invade selected polling centres in the strongholds of our candidate with the aim of suppressing and disrupting voting on polling day,” he writes.

Muturi says the presence of these “imported goons” has already been observed in Kanyamaumbura, Ishiara, and Siakago towns, raising concerns about possible violence and intimidation on election day.

He argues that the involvement of security officers in civilian clothing points to a coordinated state-backed effort to unlawfully influence the vote.

“Their motive is clearly mischievous,” he adds.

Rampant voter bribery

Beyond intimidation, Muturi accuses UDA operatives of engaging in widespread voter bribery during campaign rallies and mobilisation drives. According to him, money is being openly distributed to sway voters, while some residents are allegedly being instructed to photograph their marked ballots to prove how they voted before receiving payment.

Muturi says such practices not only violate electoral laws but also erode the sanctity of the secret ballot.

“We are witnessing massive voter bribery in the UDA/Government rallies and meetings presently,” the DP leader notes.

These claims come amid growing murmurs in the constituency, where residents have increasingly reported late-night cash handouts, fuelled by widespread fears of electoral fraud.

Muturi urges the IEBC to intervene urgently to safeguard the credibility of the upcoming by-election. In his letter, he outlines three demands:

Acknowledge and act on the alleged plan to deny voters a free and fair election through bribery and intimidation.
Put in place immediate countermeasures to stop what he terms “evil and illegal machinations,” and brief the party on actions taken.
Provide an updated voter register on election day to prevent cases of missing or misplaced names, which he fears could be exploited to disenfranchise voters.

Muturi says failure by the IEBC to act decisively will expose the polls to manipulation and erode public trust in the electoral process.

“We look forward to your prompt action,” he concludes.

The by-election, triggered by a court-ordered nullification, has attracted intense interest from political players. With both DP and UDA viewing the constituency as strategically important, the stakes have risen sharply—fuelled further by allegations of bribery, interference, and state-sponsored intimidation.

As November 27 approaches, Muturi’s protest puts pressure on the IEBC to demonstrate impartiality and act firmly against any attempts to subvert the vote.

For now, Mbeere North remains on edge—caught between fierce political competition and growing fears over the integrity of the ballot.