Deputy president Kithure Kindiki has used a campaign stop in Mbeere North to assure residents that a slate of long-promised public projects will be completed, tying the government’s development agenda directly to next week’s by-election in the constituency.
Addressing rallies in Muthanthara and Kirie on Wednesday, Kindiki insisted the area — long described by locals as marginalised — was finally seeing movement on long-delayed investments in roads, water and electricity under President William Ruto’s administration. He urged voters to back the United Democratic Alliance’s candidate, Leonard Wamuthende Leo, arguing he would be best placed to secure continued attention from Nairobi.
“The development needs of Mbeere North are massive,” Kindiki told crowds. “We can’t afford to play cards with our development again. Those telling you to join the opposition don’t mean well for you.”
The DP went on to catalogue a list of projects, collectively running into the billions of shillings, which he said were already under way. These include the tarmacking of the Siakago–Kanyuambora, Gikuyari–Ishiara and Kanyuambora–Kamumu roads. Water infrastructure — a chronic concern in the region — featured prominently: the Sh250m Kanyuambora ward project, the Sh150m Kamata project in Nthawa ward, and a larger scheme drawing water from Kiambere dam to supply both Mbeere North and Mbeere South, already allocated Sh1.3bn.
Electricity access, too, is being held up as evidence of renewed state interest. The constituency’s allocation of Sh336m for last-mile connections will be increased to Sh600m following what Kindiki described as his personal intervention.
According to the deputy president, these developments strengthen the case for electing Leo, who, he said, would “enjoy the support of all leaders in Embu” and have the ear of senior government officials, including the president himself. Kindiki added that he would “keenly follow up” implementation timelines to ensure the projects do not stall.
But his visit also carried a sharper political message. Kindiki accused opposition figures of using the campaign period to “spread hate, threats and insults”, warning that “this habit… must come to an end”. Leaders, he said, could not “impose themselves on people who don’t want anything from them”, in a clear swipe at rival parties seeking to make inroads in the constituency.
With the by-election approaching, the government’s development pledges appear increasingly entwined with political calculus.
