President William Ruto yesterday urged Mt Kenya voters not to abandon him in the 2027 General Election, instead asking them to endorse his re-election bid, saying he has lived up to his 2022 pre-election pledges.
Speaking during his tour of Murang’a County, President Ruto urged residents to remember his long-standing engagement with the region, including church-building efforts and frequent visits over the past 20 years, and to consider him a dependable ally.
“I presented myself to you in 2022, promised you service delivery, and I am busy fulfilling that promise. Do not listen to those insulting me and inciting you against me. I am your best bet,” he said as he toured Mathioya, Kiharu and Gatanga constituencies on the first day of his two-day visit.
He acknowledged emerging challenges, saying: “I know there is a small problem that has crept in, but I will continue coming back here again and again over the next year until we ensure we are united.”
During the tour, President Ruto launched the Kiriko–Kagumo-ini–Gitugi–Karugia road in Mathioya, Kiharu TVET hostels and a Jitume ICT Lab along the Murang’a–Kiriaini road, laid the foundation stone for the Murang’a Town affordable housing programme, and inspected Mumbi Stadium and Kayole Market.
In Gatanga, he inspected the Del Monte Affordable Housing Programme and the expansion of Kenneth Matiba Hospital before proceeding to Kandara Constituency, where he laid the foundation stone for another affordable housing project. He also inspected the Kandara–Gititu–Karima Mwaro road, concluding his first day of the tour.
Dr Ruto said he had built a strong case for re-election, particularly in agriculture, health and construction. He noted that coffee prices had risen from below Sh60 per kilo when he took office to over Sh110. He also cited reforms in education funding, expanded electricity and water connectivity, and renewed support for businesses.
Even as his reception appeared less enthusiastic compared with the 2022 campaign period, the President maintained that he would unite the country and not leave behind the Mt Kenya region.
“Please, let those opposing me show their contribution to your quality of life. Let them not get away with only calling me ‘Kasongo’ and shouting that I must go. Let us be judged by work done. Those driven by anger, confusion, division and tribalism should not influence you,” he said.
He added that Mt Kenya voters are discerning decision-makers and would not delegate their civic duty of choosing a president to any individual or group.
President William Ruto and Deputy President Prof Kindiki Kithure join traditional dancers in a dance after the official commissioning of Kiharu Technical and Vocational training Jitume Hub and Groundbreaking ceremony for Kiharu TVET Hostels, in Muranga County on Friday, April 24, 2026.
Photo credit: PCS
Accompanied by Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki, some of the President’s allies issued thinly veiled political warnings ahead of 2027.
Lands and Housing Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome declared that Mt Kenya would back President Ruto as the sole presidential candidate, adding that Prof Kindiki should remain Deputy President.
Prof Kindiki pledged continued support for the President’s development agenda, urging residents to prioritise service delivery over political rhetoric.
“Let me beseech you, my people: development should be the core measure of supporting a government. For continuity of the good work this government is doing, let us stand behind President Ruto,” he said.
Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua, whose impeachment as Deputy President was backed by President Ruto in October 2024 after two years in office, has vowed to ensure the President loses the 2027 vote in the region.
However, President Ruto dismissed Mr Gachagua’s influence, saying no individual controls Mt Kenya’s political direction.
“No one holds the key to Mt Kenya, and we need no permission to engage with the people here,” he said.
In Kiharu, where MP Ndindi Nyoro has recently taken a low profile during the President’s tours, the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party appeared to back Communications Authority Board Chairman Charles Karondo as its 2027 parliamentary candidate.
In Murang’a County, which has about 620,000 voters across seven constituencies, President Ruto enjoys support from Mathioya MP Edwin Gichuki, Maragua MP Mary wa Maua, Kangema MP Peter Kihungi, and Woman Representative Betty Maina.
Other constituencies are represented by Kigumo MP Joseph Munyoro (aligned with the opposition), Gatanga MP Edward Muriu (opposition), Kandara MP Chege Njuguna, and Kiharu MP Nyoro, whose political positions remain unclear.
“I have no issues. If you fail to see me at some of your stops, it is because I have a bad leg,” said Dr Kang’ata.
Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu told Saturday Nation he did not attend the President’s events, citing a lack of clarity on key issues affecting residents.
“When he campaigned here in 2022, he said he could not be judged by work done because the President controls the budget. He should revisit his 2022 footage and realise the same standard now applies to him. It is not personal; it is simply an idea whose time has come,” Mr Nyutu said.
He said he expected the President to announce the revival of the Sh6 billion Vision 2030 market project in Maragua, which stalled in 2012 after reaching only 10 per cent completion.
“The 20-acre project site is still there. It was meant to be a bulk market, requiring an additional Sh5 billion to boost agricultural activity, with a minimum trading unit of a tonne of produce,” he said.
Mr Nyutu added that the project included a Sh2 billion programme to help youth involved in illicit brews transition into agriculture.
He said that if there had been indications that the President would address issues such as land disputes affecting over 10,000 squatters, killings in foreign-owned plantations, and cases of police brutality, he would have attended.
He further claimed that more than 60 per cent of Murang’a families lack title deeds decades after independence.
“As it stands, this is a tax-funded political tour focused on re-election campaigning. The projects he is visiting should be supervised locally by ward representatives and government engineers,” he said, accusing the President of “issuing roadside budgets outside parliamentary allocations.”
Mr Nyutu also called for scrutiny of multinational plantations such as Del Monte and Kakuzi to assess their social and economic impact on local communities and their compliance with constitutional rights.
