President William Ruto addresses a section of Mt Kenya leaders at State House, Nairobi, ahead of his visit to the region Read
A section of Mt. Kenya politicians allied to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is gearing up for President William Ruto’s upcoming visit to the region, ready to challenge him on key issues affecting the area. Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu stated that he would attend Ruto’s rallies, hoping to confront him on several concerns, including what he perceives as the president’s adversarial stance toward Mt. Kenya.
Nyutu voiced his frustrations in an interview with Citizen TV, questioning why Ruto appears to be targeting the region in political purges within the Executive and Parliament. He also criticized the president for not addressing the ongoing development projects, emphasizing that Ruto should focus on the progress of previous initiatives instead of launching new ones. “We want to hear from him about the projects he launched earlier. We want an answer to why he seems to be attacking the region despite the overwhelming support we gave him,” Nyutu said.
This tour is Ruto’s first since Gachagua’s impeachment, and Nyutu pointed out that it would be an opportunity for the president to explain why he turned his back on his former deputy despite Gachagua’s support during the 2022 election. “Why is he abandoning those who helped him win the election? He needs to show that he can honor his commitments and friends,” Nyutu added.
On his part, Gatanga MP Edward Muriu advised Ruto to avoid making promises of new development projects, especially given that many previous ones have stalled. He warned the president against using the region’s wounds for political gain, predicting a hostile reception if Ruto insists on discussing issues such as the impeachment of Gachagua, his alliance with Raila Odinga, or policies like the Affordable Housing and the Hustler Fund.
“Do not bring up Rigathi Gachagua, the deal with Raila, or your other initiatives like SHA or the Hustler Fund. These issues are still too raw, and bringing them up will only result in booing and backlash,” Muriu cautioned.
The Mt. Kenya region, which played a significant role in Ruto’s victory, is now divided, with many feeling betrayed by the president’s actions and decisions. As Ruto prepares for his high-stakes tour, these leaders are keen to address their grievances and seek clarity on their future relationship with the president.