Buoyed by the outcome of the November 27 mini-polls, President William Ruto has stepped up his political incursion in vote-rich Mt Kenya after months of perceived hostility, and lull on his side.
The region that swept the President to power in 2022 was seen to be drifting away from Kenya Kwanza administration following the impeachment of their son, the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Following the bitter fallout, Dr Ruto and his allies from the region faced major hostility and jeers in public rallies.
But after the Mbeere North parliamentary win, the President’s strategists have crafted a multi-prong strategy in a broader scheme to win back the region that handed him close to three million votes.
Newly elected Mbeere North MP Leonard Muthende shares a light moment with President William Ruto.
Photo credit: PSCU
Increased political rallies, revamping of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) grassroots networks through elections and dolling of major national government projects are some of the strategies being deployed as time ticks towards the 2027 presidential contest.
Last Saturday, the party elected 20 officials in every polling centres, translating to thousands of party officials in the region. Seen as party agents, the outfit seeks to use the new grassroots network to mobilise support in an attempt to regain ground ahead of the next contest. Following the polling centre-level elections, the party is set to hold ward, constituency and county-level elections as part of its grand scheme to increase its presence.
The 10 Mt Kenya counties and the seven from the North Rift collectively handed Dr Ruto 4.5 million votes, which translated to 63 percent of his total votes. Laikipia, Tharaka-Nithi, Murang’a, Kiambu, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua, Embu, Meru and Nakuru collectively gave Dr Ruto nearly three million votes.
With 2,938, 309 votes from the 10 Mt Kenya counties, Dr Ruto topped up with 1.6 million votes from seven North Rift counties.
The by-election win was a major boost in sustaining perception and popularity narratives seen crucial for President Ruto’s re-election bid.
The November 27 mini-polls were largely seen as a referendum on Dr Ruto’s administration that has been struggling for support following the nationwide June, 2024 protests by the Gen Zs.
On Monday, the President while in Nyeri dismissed claims by Mr Gachagua that he helped him secure the Mt Kenya vote, saying nobody can claim to have introduced him to the region.
Since his ouster in October 2024, Mr Gachagua has been telling the locals that he introduced the President to the region, and that they should shun him, while terming his impeachment a betrayal to the community.
“I did not know the kind of man Ruto is. I ask for forgiveness for misleading you. Now that we have known the kind of man he is, we will not give him our votes in 2027.”
While in Nyeri, Mr Gachagua’s home county, President Ruto said nobody should take credit for his support in the region that gave him 87 percent of his votes in the 2022 election.
President William Ruto and his deputy, Prof Kindiki Kithure, join youths in a dance at launch of the disbursement of Sh173.2 million Nyota business start-up capital to 6,982 young entrepreneurs from Nyeri, Murang’a, Nyandarua, and Kirinyaga counties at Kabiru-ini ASK Grounds, Nyeri.
Photo credit: PCS
“I have heard some people going round claiming they carried me on their backs and introduced me to the mountain. Nobody brought me here. The truth is that I came with my former boss Uhuru Kenyatta who used to send me here to represent him,” he said.
“When I was the deputy President, I launched projects and represented my former boss. I launched construction of roads…we built churches together with our friendship spanning over 20 years. Anybody purporting to have introduced me to you should not think they will destroy our friendship,” Dr Ruto added.
The President repeated the remarks in Nyeri town when he commissioned a classroom block at Nyamachaki comprehensive school and when he inspected construction of Kenol-Marua dual carriage at Marua interchange.
“Let me tell them that they will not threaten me with Wantam or Kasongo must go. They have no agenda and when time comes for Kenyans to make their decision in 2027, they will elect the person who has demonstrated a good track record,” the President said.
But Gatanga MP Edward Muriu, a close ally of Mr Gachagua, said the ‘electric and organic’ receptions the President used to get have long faded away. He claimed that some of the cheering squad in the President's rallies are hired to create a popularity perception.
“The president is back in the mountain with lots of regrets. He knows things fell apart after betraying them. But as Head of State, he must keep his head high and show a face of confidence that all is well,” said Mr Muriu.
“For the mountain people, you need to understand their culture; they do not shout, they do not insult, they do not throw stones. And since he (Ruto) has a habit of carrying goodies, they do not mind mingling with him.”
He said the projects being launched by the President cannot hoodwink the region to change its mind and vote Dr Ruto for a second term. He claimed that some of the projects being launched were started by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“They may not know whom they will give their presidential vote in 2027, but they have made up their minds and know who not to give. The ground moved long time ago and they are quietly waiting for the date.”
Similar views were shared by Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua, who said that residents of the larger Mount Kenya region have their own legitimate reasons for ditching President Ruto.
“He has bruised their collective political conscience. He has dismissed their sons and daughters from his Cabinet without justifiable cause, he has messed up the economy, thereby hurting their enterprises. He caused his deputy to be impeached against the collective will of the community and his administration has presided over the worst brutal attack on the youth,” said Mr Wambua.
“I am the least qualified to speak for my cousins, but I have no doubt in my mind that they will make the right choice in regard to the next presidential election. Out of the five presidents that Kenya has had, the Mount Kenya region has produced three and so they are not necessarily excited about Ruto’s presidency; not after he has hurt them in the manner that he has.”
