This year’s Madaraka Day celebrations in Embu County were marked by a fiery political showdown as Governor Cecily Mbarire openly accused unnamed senior government officials from Nairobi of orchestrating covert efforts to undermine her authority.
Speaking at Makima Primary School Grounds, the vocal governor and chairperson of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party condemned what she described as “disrespectful” tactics aimed at sowing discord among elected leaders in the county.
Governor Mbarire revealed that these senior officers have been holding secret late-night meetings within Embu, apparently plotting against her and other local leaders. “If there is somebody who has faced a lot of challenges because of standing with this government, it’s me,” Mbarire stated firmly. “But now, some people are planning bad things against me. They think they understand Embu politics more than we, but they are wrong.”
Her remarks come amid growing tensions within UDA, particularly following Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s public questioning of her leadership earlier this year. Kindiki accused Mbarire of failing to defend President William Ruto during a previous visit to Embu, suggesting this reflected poorly on her commitment and placing her role as party chair under scrutiny.
These accusations have added fuel to ongoing power struggles within the party, especially after the merger of UDA and Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC). Mbarire warned the unnamed officials to cease their interference, emphasizing her mandate as an elected leader chosen by the people of Embu.
“You should give me the same respect I give you,” she insisted.
She called for transparent dialogue and mutual respect, urging government actors to resolve differences through discussion rather than secretive backroom dealings.
As Embu navigates these political fault lines, the Governor’s bold stance highlights the complexities of local leadership amid national party dynamics, underscoring the need for unity and respect to foster effective governance.
