To him, it is a clear test of who truly controls politics in the Mt. Kenya region.
He says that the outcome will either weaken former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua or prove that his grip on the region is still strong.
Baraza explains that if the government’s preferred candidate wins, it will send a message that Gachagua’s influence has faded.
According to him, it would show that the people of Mt. Kenya have shifted away from Gachagua’s political direction and are now choosing to follow the government’s line.
In simple terms, it would be a sign that the government still has a tight hold on the region and that Gachagua’s voice no longer carries as much weight as before.
However, Baraza adds that the opposite is also true. If the Democracy for citizens party (DCP) candidate wins, it will mean that Gachagua has managed to rally Mt. Kenya behind him.
It would be proof that he still commands loyalty among voters and that his message is stronger than the government’s.
Such a win would shake the political landscape, showing that Gachagua can stand firm even when facing pressure from state machinery.
He describes the by-election as a battle of influence rather than a normal campaign.
Every handshake, every rally, and every promise made in Mbeere North is being watched closely by leaders across the country.
Baraza says Mt. Kenya has always been a region where political signals are strong, and whatever happens there often shapes national debates.
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