Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has downplayed the new political development.
Facing rejection in Mt Kenya, President William Ruto is on a charm offensive to win back support by first reconciling with his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta.
However, former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has downplayed this new political development.
On Tuesday, Mr Gachagua, whose removal from office as deputy president in October left the Mt Kenya region disgruntled, said the meeting between the two leaders should not ruffle any feathers and that it has no bearing on his political pronouncement expected in January.
"We cannot say people should not meet. We cannot dictate who meets who in this life... we have no such powers. In fact, I am encouraging as many people as possible to unite and speak to each other for the common good. We are also meeting and there are aspects of our engagements that in agreement we have decided to keep secret," Mr Gachagua told Nation.Africa.
"Wait for the New Year declaration that we are going to make and you will see that we too have been meeting,” he went on.
While discontent has been simmering in the region for some time now occasioned by unpopular government policies, President Ruto’s two key political actions served to stoke the rebellion in Mt Kenya.
The truce with opposition leader Raila Odinga that was cemented with the appointment of his close allies in Cabinet soured relations with the region where Mr Odinga has been projected as a political scarecrow.
In 2007, 2013 and 2017 elections, Mr Odinga’s presidential candidacy received a hostile reception in Mt Kenya. Even in 2022, when he had the backing of outgoing President Kenyatta, the ODM leader only garnered roughly 12 per cent of the vote from the region.
Quite expectedly, the entry into the corridors of power of a man the region had determinedly voted to keep out of government has caused further discontent with Ruto's regime.
The timing, hot on the heels of anti-government protests that culminated in the invasion of Parliament, gave the impression Mr Odinga’s side had been brought in to suppress the revolt.
However, last straw that broke Mt Kenya's political back with the impeachment of Mr Gachagua as Deputy President and replaced him with Prof Kithure Kindiki.
Mr Gachagua's impeachment marked a defining moment in President Ruto’s relations with the Mt Kenya region.
Besides the hostile reception that President Ruto's loyalists have lately received in public meetings, tensions peaked when Mr Gachagua was attacked by goons in Limuru, an onslaught he blamed on State agents.
"President Ruto has persistently shown us that he is spoiling for a political brawl with us. He is acting as if we are strangers in his government and we are astounded by the boldness of his acts of aggression against us to a point we feel 2027 should be a game of us being his protagonist," says Nyandarua Senator Mr John Methu.
It is in such a poisoned political atmosphere that President Ruto, perhaps in sensing danger to his 2027 re-election bid, has started reestablishing lost love with the vote-rich region.
While political pundits hold the view that President Ruto’s mission of winning back the region will be tough, the Head of State appears to be determined to try stem the tide.
Monday’s meeting between President Ruto and Mr Kenyatta added a new twist to the political scenario in the restive region.
After their bitter fallout in the lead up to the General Election in 2022, when President Kenyatta refused to back his deputy and instead supported Mr Odinga, the two leaders have had a frosty relationship.
As the meeting between President Ruto and Mr Kenyatta continues to disturb the political waters, political analyst Prof Peter Kagwanja says “after the smoke, Kenyans should watch out for the fire,”
“As part of political schemes beneath the calm surface, watch out for Mr Kenyatta loyalists joining government as President Ruto tries to salvage his political fortunes in the mountain,” Prof Kagwanja said.
The scholar pointed out that the President appears to be trying to chip away at Mr Gachagua growing influence in the region.
“Last month, when President Ruto was jeered in Embu county, he must have taken note that Mr Gachagua and Mr Kenyatta were wildly cheered. With Mr Gachagua out of reach, for now, President Ruto must have figured that the time is right to negotiate with Mr Kenyatta,” Prof Kagwanja said.
Murang'a Woman Rep Betty Maina recently suggested the President's handlers are convinced that Mr Kenyatta holds the password to open up Mt Kenya again.
“The things I happen to know about this government are many. I can confirm to you that the President and Mr Kenyatta are working together behind the scenes,” Ms Maina told Kogi's Corner TV, an online media house, on November 7.
“Just wait and see for confirmation that mine is not idle talk...Soon you will see former key men in Mr Kenyatta's loyal circle being appointed into government to take up positions of those who have decided to drive our country over the cliff,” she added.
“In the next six months, the President's men and some key allies of his predecessor will be reading from the same script as they plan for the next move ahead of 2027,” Ms Maina added.
On Tuesday, Murang'a Senator Mr Joe Nyutu told Nation.Africa that the government has lined up numerous programmes geared at supporting President Ruto's bid for a second term.
He said government agents are already trying to entice some of Mr Gachagua allies to rejoin government ahead of the 2027 polls.
“But my view is that we should not be hoodwinked to believe that this country can only be united by the President. Anyone else can unite us. Gen Z recently showed us that we can be united by our tribulations of over taxation, chest thumping by leaders, show of opulence by overfed politicians and desire for a just, free and hopeful country,” Mr Nyutu said.
"Coming soon are sackings from government, de-whipping from legislative committees and appointments that are aimed to create fresh charge in the Mount Kenya power play,” he said.
Besides negotiating with Mr Kenyatta, the President has also turned to his Cabinet Secretaries to push his development agenda.
Over the weekend, Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome, who hails from Kandara constituency, was in Murang'a County where she had been sent to explain to the residents why they need to choose development instead of politics.
“We do not eat politics but development. Soon you will see our CSs coming down here to explain about the real benefits of supporting President Ruto’s government,” Ms Wahome said.
She said President Ruto’s message at the grassroots is the completion of stalled projects, farmers' gains, creation of jobs and uplifting of citizens' lives.
During the same function, Maragua MP Mary wa Maua, who has been an ardent Gachagua supporter, said she will align herself with the government for the people’s benefit.
“I will no longer play foolish politics. When a war is over it should not be wished back as if it were porridge,” she said.
At the same time, former Gatanga MP Nduati Ngugi said preceding the meeting between the President and Mr Kenyatta, there had been consultations within the Jubilee Party to support the government’s development agenda.
“The negotiations can be cited to be a two-year pact that will see Mr Kenyatta's loyalists accept to partner with Ruto government for development,” he said.
The thinking within President Ruto’s circle, he said, is that if his government is supported to work for about two years, he will have won over the Mt Kenya region.
“All politicians are united by common goals and only differ on interests,” said Kung'u Muigai, who is Mr Kenyatta's cousin.
“At the moment, the country is in dire need of lowered political temperatures. If President Ruto and Mr Kenyatta will manage that, the better for us all,” he said.
On his part, Kikuyu Council of Elders Chairman Wachira Kiago said they cannot dictate to Mr Kenyatta who he meets, what he discusses and with who he intends to align himself.
“What I know is that there is a flurry of activities that are being coordinated by some senior security officers to have Mt Kenya support the government and walk with it in the political journey ahead,” Mr Kiago said.
Political analyst Donald Kipruto said it is not in dispute that President Ruto’s popularity has greatly suffered in Mt Kenya.
But he observed that the Head of State is not resting on his laurels to wait and welcome the shame of one-term presidency.
“All those regional leaders, like Kalonzo Musyoka, George Natembeya, Eugene Wamalwa and Fred Matiang'I, who Mr Gachagua has been trying to woo for a possible political alliance in 2027 should prepare themselves for a wooing of their lifetime,” Mr Kipruto said.
