VIDEO - "Wantam" Chants Erupt As Mbarire & Ruku Lead Campaign For UDA Candidate In Mbeere North

The by-election is turning into a bloody power battle for control of Mount Kenya, and things are heating up in Mbeere North. 

There has been a shift in the contest from one about party allegiance to one about pride and power in a region that was previously strongly supportive of the government. 

Governor Cecily Mbarire and Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku were alerted immediately to the rowdy Wantam cries that arose from the Ishiara Marketgoers. 

People who live there are angry about being ignored and about having to vote for politicians who don't care about them, so they took advantage of the chance to express their discontent. 

As the leaders' motorcade tried to speak, the crowd got louder and louder, forcing them to depart fast. There was a major disagreement inside UDA that this incident exposed. 

The people appeared to be growing more and more irritated even as Mbarire pleaded with them to support Leonard Muriuki Wamuthende. 

Many in the constituency felt that Ruku had abandoned them once he joined the ministry and resigned from his seat. 

The other side saw the dissatisfaction as an opportunity to gain ground.

The previous vice president, Rigathi Gachagua, came into the constituency with renewed energy. 

Along with Kalonzo Musyoka and Eugene Wamalwa, he mobilised support for Democratic Party candidate Newton Kariuki. 

The residents should resist outside influence, said Gachagua, because UDA has chosen a candidate who cannot vote in the area. 

Protesters remained composed and animated despite the heavy security measures. According to Gachagua, he plans to stay in the district for a long time.

In his promise to safeguard the vote, he highlighted the importance of young people exercising extreme caution when casting their ballots in this election. 

It appeared like his message of communal pride and respect struck a chord with many of the people. 

As soon as it became light, he meandered through the market, chatting with sellers and stopping at roadside tea booths. 

As he promised to help the town make a strong statement, the audience went wild with cheers.

On the basis of his appearance alone, several predicted a strong showing from Kariuki, claiming he changed the course of the race. 

A test of loyalty and strength seems to have ensued in the by-election. 

While President Ruto's allies emphasise development promises, the opposition plays on voters' emotions and frustrations. 

There is a lot of pressure building up to the election, and the political climate is becoming increasingly heated.