MBEERE NORTH, Kenya—November 27, 2025—As the November 27 by-election takes place in Mbeere North, a cloud of fear and suspicion hung over the constituency. What should have been a peaceful democratic exercise was overshadowed by claims that armed groups, plain-clothed operatives, and politically motivated “goons” were being deployed — allegedly with protection from state security officers.
In villages across Mbeere North, residents spoke of a growing unease. Youths and campaign agents reported being followed, warned, and in some cases threatened with violence. Dark-tinted vehicles carrying unknown individuals were seen near polling stations in Kiambere, Mavuria, and Makima, prompting questions: were these individuals simply voters, election observers, or something far more sinister?
Political leaders, including the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) Leader, Rigathi Gachagua publicly accused government-aligned actors of orchestrating intimidation to sway the election. In media statements, he alleged that these operatives were being shielded by plain-clothed police officers, making them untouchable despite widespread reports of harassment and threats.
“We have evidence of a coordinated plan to influence voters through fear,” said Gachagua. “Yet the alleged perpetrators roam freely, with police inaction effectively giving them cover.”
Residents described harrowing experiences. One campaign agent recounted being chased from a village by a group of men wielding clubs and machetes, only to see uniformed officers arrive much later, refusing to intervene. In another instance, a candidate’s motorcade was blocked and attacked by a mob of men whose identities were unclear — some appeared civilian, others suspected to be undercover enforcers.
Observers from civil society and human rights organisations have flagged the deployment of plain-clothed operatives as a key factor in the tense environment. Their presence, often at strategic polling locations, created fear among voters, suppressing turnout and raising questions about the impartiality of security agencies.
“This is not ordinary policing; it is the weaponisation of security for political purposes,” said a local rights monitor. “When citizens cannot distinguish between law enforcement and politically sponsored goons, democracy itself is threatened.”
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was called upon to intervene, with opposition leaders demanding transparent investigations and the removal of any suspicious individuals near polling stations. Yet, according to local reports, many of these interventions came too late, leaving residents to navigate a landscape dominated by fear, intimidation, and the constant question of safety.
As election day unfolded, the tension was palpable. Voters hesitated to go to polling stations, campaign agents operated under constant threat, and the boundary between civic protection and political coercion grew increasingly blurred.
By the close of polls, it was clear that Mbeere North’s by-election was as much a test of Kenya’s democratic institutions as it was a contest for a parliamentary seat. The overarching question lingered: when democracy is meant to be free and fair, how can it thrive under the shadow of fear, and when those charged with protection appear indistinguishable from perpetrators?
