Former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has distanced himself from accusations that his Chama Cha Kazi (CCK) party weakened the opposition vote in the Mbeere North by-election.
In a detailed statement issued on X, Kuria said allegations that he fielded a candidate to dilute support for the opposition were unfounded and ignored the broader dynamics of the contest.
The by-election, won by UDA’s Joseph Wamuthende, featured several candidates drawn from different political formations in Embu County.
The race became a focal point in the wider battle for influence between Kenya’s leading coalitions, with party alignments in the Mount Kenya East region continuing to shift after the 2022 General Election. Kuria said CCK’s involvement should be viewed within this competitive environment rather than through accusations of sabotage.
Responding directly to his critics, Kuria said neither he nor his party entered into any pre-election understanding with any coalition or candidate.
“Did we have a deal with anyone that we failed to honour? Were we even approached by anyone for a deal and we declined?” he asked in his statement.
He insisted that CCK acted on its own and was not obligated to back any particular side.
Kuria also explained that CCK’s candidate, Duncan Mbui, joined the party after being dropped by the Democratic Congress Party (DCP) during nominations.
He questioned why opposition-aligned groups failed to consolidate their aspirants, noting that UDA had resolved internal competition by rallying defeated hopefuls behind Wamuthende.
According to Kuria, similar efforts from rival camps could have prevented the fragmentation they now blame on CCK.
He further pointed out that the ballot featured five other contenders in addition to the main candidates, saying critics were selectively focusing on Mbui while ignoring the presence of other independent or party-linked hopefuls.
“There were five other candidates… Who had sent these other five?” he stated, arguing that the narrative of vote-splitting was being unfairly personalised.
The former CS added that he was the only national figure who campaigned for Mbui, contrasting this with the heavy presence of senior leaders who supported Karish, the opposition-backed candidate.
He listed several national politicians—including Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Kalonzo Musyoka, and Martha Karua—who campaigned in the constituency, questioning how his solitary involvement could have produced a significant shift in voter preferences.
The Mbeere North by-election drew high-level attention as parties tested their ground strength ahead of future contests.
Kuria maintained that CCK will continue to participate independently in elections where it enjoys local support, dismissing attempts to cast the party as a spoiler in regional politics.