Two voters from Mbeere North have filed a petition in the Embu High Court challenging the victory of UDA candidate Leo Wa Muthende Njeru in the November 27 by-election. They claim he was not a registered voter and his name had discrepancies due to a recent change. They seek nullification of the results and a fresh poll.
The Mbeere North by-election took place on November 27, 2025, following the appointment of Geoffrey Ruku as Public Service Cabinet Secretary, succeeding Justin Muturi who was dismissed in March this year. Leo Wa Muthende Njeru of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) was declared the winner with 15,802 votes, beating Newton Kariuki (Karish) of the Democratic Party who received 15,308. Duncan Mbui of Chama cha Kazi finished third with 2,480 votes, with UDA winning by a narrow margin of 494 votes as announced by returning officer John Mwii Kinyua.
Two days after his swearing-in, voters Julieta Karigi and Patrick Gitonga, represented by lawyer Kiragu Wathuta, filed a petition on December 4, 2025, in the Embu High Court. They claim Muthende was not a registered voter and his name was listed as Leonard Muriuki Njeru on the IEBC register. They note that on September 3, 2024, he changed his name to Leo Wa Muthende Njeru, but the change was not updated, and he used the old name in nomination papers.
"The first respondent was declared the winner of the Mbeere North election as Leo Wa Muthende Njeru, a name that does not appear in the register of voters. The only registered name is Leonard Muriuki Njeru which he had already renounced," they stated in their affidavit. They blame the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and Kinyua for allowing dual names, arguing this made the election neither free nor fair.
Muthende has said he is ready to defend his victory. "They want to go to court; my lawyer is very ready. In fact, I am the one who should go to court. I have evidence of them bringing violence during the by-election," he stated. The petitioners seek a declaration that the results are null and void, and a new election, requesting the case be treated as urgent.