Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has raised serious concerns about how elderly residents in Mbeere North were treated during the recent by elections.
He claimed that many older citizens who rely on the Inua Jamii cash transfer programme were threatened and told their benefits would be stopped if they did not support the United Democratic Alliance.
According to him, this fear affected how people voted and may have influenced the final outcome of the polls.
Gachagua explained that around seven thousand elderly residents were allegedly targeted by local administrators, Nyumba Kumi leaders and some elders who warned them about losing their stipends.
He said this kind of pressure was unfair and created an environment where people did not feel free to choose their preferred candidate.
He added that the use of bribery and intimidation in Mbeere North showed that the election was not carried out in a fair way.
He also argued that what happened in the constituency should not be used to judge how voters in the larger Mt Kenya region feel. In his view, the contest was shaped by heavy spending and pressure from UDA.
He claimed that over Ksh800 million was used to influence voters and that some groups intimidated residents to support the party.
Gachagua insisted that his own camp could not engage in such tactics and criticised President William Ruto and his advisers for misunderstanding politics in the region.
Gachagua further said that issues were not only seen in areas where his party lost. He pointed to Narok, saying that senior police officials tried to interfere in the voting process.
According to him, the local police commander refused to hand over control to political leaders and was then transferred just before the elections. He praised the residents of Narok for standing firm and ensuring the vote went on despite the pressure they faced.
He warned that Kenyans would not tolerate intimidation from state agencies or organised groups in future elections. He said voters showed courage in Narok and that the same energy would be seen in the 2027 general election, where people would not accept threats or harassment.
Despite claiming irregularities, Gachagua said he would not go to court in constituencies where his party, DCP, fielded candidates. He expressed pride in their performance, saying the party still won in Narok Town and also secured victory in Khwisero, which he said shows that DCP is not a tribal outfit but a party with growing national support.
These concerns came soon after IEBC Chair Erastus Edung Ethekon warned politicians against trying to influence electoral officials during the by elections. He said some political actors attempted to interfere with the process even though Kenya’s election system is designed to prevent rigging.
Ethekon noted that observers and the media had monitored the polls and could confirm the credibility of the process.
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