The High Court has handed President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) a major political victory after upholding the election of Leonard Wamuthende Njeru as the validly elected Member of Parliament for Mbeere North, dismissing a petition that sought to overturn the hotly contested 2025 by-election.
The court dismissed claims of violence, voter intimidation, irregularities and identity inconsistencies that had threatened to nullify Wamuthende’s narrow victory.
“Having concluded the hearing of the election petition, I certify that the petition is dismissed and the fourth respondent remains the duly elected Member of Parliament of Mbeere North Constituency,” the court ruled.
The case had become one of the most politically watched election disputes in the Mt Kenya region after Democratic Party aligned candidate Newton Kariuki Ndwiga moved to court challenging Wamuthende’s election following the November 27, 2025 by-election.
The petition alleged voter bribery, tallying irregularities, violence and inconsistencies linked to the MP’s name change from Leonard Muriuki Njeru to Leo Wa Muthende Njeru.
However, the court ultimately upheld the election, effectively cementing UDA’s grip on the constituency and delivering a fresh political win for President Ruto’s camp at a time when supremacy battles in Mt Kenya continue intensifying.
The unique political angle emerging from the ruling is that Mbeere North had evolved into more than just a constituency election dispute.
It became an early proxy war between forces aligned to the Kenya Kwanza administration and opposition leaning factions linked to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his allies.
UDA leaders had heavily invested political capital in defending the seat after Wamuthende’s victory margin of just 494 votes triggered fierce legal and political battles.
At one point, the High Court had even ordered a limited scrutiny and recount of ballots in selected polling stations after claims of irregularities and disruptions during voting.
Despite the scrutiny process and sustained pressure from opponents, the court’s final decision now gives Wamuthende full legal backing to continue serving as MP, while also handing UDA fresh momentum in the region ahead of future political contests.
The judgment is also likely to reignite debate around the increasing use of election petitions as political continuation battles long after votes are cast, especially in highly polarized constituencies.
For UDA, however, the ruling will be viewed as both a legal and symbolic victory in a region that remains central to the 2027 political equation.