President William Ruto’s speculated visit to the Mt. Kenya region is a seemingly slippery climb amid boiling political clamor.
In the past week, President Ruto has held two meetings with leaders from the region at State House, Nairobi.
The first one was held on March 21 where Ruto said on X that the talks included revamping the agricultural sector in coffee, tea and dairy farming, infrastructure development, affordable housing and fresh produce markets, among others.
The second one was then held on Monday, where he met governors from the region, several cabinet secretaries, and principal secretaries.
The Gachagua factor
His popularity in the region has however turned sour after falling out with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in October 2024 and has never set foot in the region since then.
His name has slowly become a mouth sore as the region continues to exhibit indifference in supporting the Head of State who was propelled to power by the region’s overwhelming support in 2022.
Ruto’s move to oust Gachagua however came with unprecedented ramifications, including a purge against his administration led by the ex-DP and his allies.
Gachagua has been on an onslaught against his former boss calling him out over poor governance, and urging residents to be wary of awarding President Ruto a second term in office.
“In a record two years, Ruto has destroyed Kenya’s health and education system and made the cost of living unbearable, nothing is working. These two years have been filled with nothing but lies,” he said during the launch of Martha Karua’s Peoples Liberation Party (PLP).
“Ever since I was born, I have never seen a liar like Ruto. This guy looks you straight in the eye and lies without hesitation. Many people from home have blamed me, saying I’m the one who brought him to them. I try to defend myself, saying I’m just an ordinary Kenyan from Wamunyoro.”
His allies have also followed suit by censuring President Ruto at every given opportunity.
Among those who have remained vocal are Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wa Muchomba, Murang’a County Senator Joe Nyutu, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga and Former Laikipia County Woman Representative Cate Waruguru.
They have maintained that President Ruto showed his true colors and should not be trusted.
In an interview with Citizen Digital, Wa Muchomba openly accused the Head of State of engaging in divisive politics. She believes the president has shifted from a unifying national agenda.
“We have a president who is a populist, and unfortunately, this does not augur well. All he is doing is promising popular projects that he cannot deliver. Promising the people of Nairobi chapati is simplistic. If he cannot even feed his military for lunch, what capacity does he have to feed the children of Nairobi?” she posed.
Nyutu argued that President Ruto has failed to uphold political decorum, allowing his allies to castigate the region which played a significant role in propelling him to power.
“We want him to come with an answer on why he is targeting us as a region, why he has set loose his attack dogs to call us tribalists when we voted for him,” he said during a past interview with Citizen TV.
“When did we start becoming tribalists? What did we do to him such that anytime we point out something wrong the government is doing to us we are called tribalists? Let him tell us why he is doing a purge against people of our region.”
Ruto’s clapback
President Ruto has however proven to be one to go down with a fight by demoting Gachagua’s allies from Parliamentary positions.
National Assembly Majority Whip Sylvanus Osoro relegated at least 5 Gachagua-leaning MPs to members of the services and facilities committee concerned with catering services for the legislators.
They include Githunguri legislator Gathoni Wamuchomba, who has been chairing the constitution implementation oversight committee; Roysambu MP Mwafrika Augustine Kamande who skipped President William Ruto’s Sunday service in his constituency; Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara, who has been in the lands committee; and Mumias East MP Peter Salasya.
Others who fell from glory and downgraded to less powerful House committees include Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, who is now a member from being a chairperson of the trade committee; Gatanga MP Edward Muriu, Juja MP George Koimburi, and Kajiado North lawmaker Onesmus Ngogoyo. They were all moved to the Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library Committee.
In the Senate Gachagua’s sympathizers and friends were kicked out of powerful committees.
They include Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu, Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa, Nyandarua’s John Methu, Kirinyaga’s James Murango, and Kajiado’s Kanar Seki.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has also asked Mt. Kenya residents to ignore Gachagua, describing him as a detractor who failed to deliver tangible results while in office and has resorted to divisive rhetoric.
Other leaders who have openly fired at Gachagua include National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and other Ruto loyalists.
Meanwhile, Gachagua has hinted at an execution plan against him and has even written a special letter to his community, outlining guidance on how they should navigate politics should anything happen to him.
Speaking on Kameme FM, Gachagua disclosed that the letter, which he has entrusted to his lawyers, provides directives on leadership and political strategy in the event of his sudden demise.
“I cannot sit here and assume I will live forever. This government has already sent thugs to kill me in Limuru,” he alleged. “If I had died then, who would have guided my community?” he posed.
