President William Ruto’s determination to win back the vote-rich Mt Kenya has seen him tap into the experience of seasoned politicians expected to help reverse dwindling support in the region.
One of these key allies is Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri, now serving his fourth term in Parliament.
Having joined elective politics in his twenties, Mr Kiunjuri has worked with Kenya’s past three presidents and was once a trusted lieutenant of the late President Mwai Kibaki. During the 2010 constitutional referendum campaigns, he was among a select group of leaders entrusted with rallying voters to support the new Constitution.
The Service Party (TSP) leader is known for his powerful oratory—especially in Kikuyu—and strong grassroots mobilisation skills. He is also recognised for being hands-on, rarely delegating responsibilities.
This may help explain how, against expectations, he managed to reclaim the Laikipia East parliamentary seat in 2022, beating his then-popular predecessor, Amin Deddy. Since returning to Parliament, Mr Kiunjuri has aligned himself closely with President Ruto despite a long-standing rivalry with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri addresses crowds at Naromoru while accompanied President William Ruto on August 9, 2023.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi | Nation Media Group
The political tension between the two stems from a sense of seniority—Mr Kiunjuri, being more experienced, is said to have felt sidelined in favour of the then-rising Gachagua.
Mr Kiunjuri’s recent appointment as Chair of the Mt Kenya MPs Caucus, which brings together President Ruto’s allies in the region, comes at a time when a by-election looms in Mbeere North. The outcome will offer a litmus test on whether Kenya Kwanza has made any progress in regaining the region’s support.
When President Ruto decided to sideline his deputy last October, Mr Kiunjuri not only supported the move but also rallied fellow Laikipia MPs to do the same. Many of the MPs who supported the impeachment have since faced hostility from their constituents and have resorted to meeting only organised groups, or speaking at churches and school functions.
He has openly criticised Gachagua’s political style and even stated publicly that he would support another impeachment if the opportunity arose.
He has already begun touring various wards to “listen to the ground”— a strategy the Mt Kenya Caucus hopes will help them understand the strong resentment toward President Ruto.
In one such visit to Mia Moja Ward in Mukogodo East, Laikipia County, he engaged residents about their frustrations with the President. At the end of the meeting, he asked if they still wanted development projects. When they responded affirmatively, he pledged to deliver while citing his closeness to the government.
Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri with President William Ruto during the launch of the affordable housing project in Nanyuki on January 10, 2024.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi | Nation Media Group
On August 2, during an empowerment forum in Nanyuki, Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki praised Mr Kiunjuri’s political skills.
“His experience is a big asset. People had started believing in empty politics, but Kiunjuri has stood firm to protect his community from meaningless slogans. He is now championing development for his people,” Prof Kindiki said.
He also acknowledged Kiunjuri’s role in organising President Ruto’s first public appearance in the region after a five-month absence earlier this year. The President received a warm welcome in Laikipia County, largely credited to Mr Kiunjuri’s mobilisation.
Mr Gachagua’s impeachment attempt marked the start of a overt backlash against President Ruto’s administration. Central Kenya MPs who supported the move have been booed and heckled at public gatherings.
Despite appointing Prof Kindiki, a native of Mt Kenya East, to a high-profile Cabinet position, resentment toward the Kenya Kwanza administration continues. It has not helped that Mr Gachagua has seized every opportunity to brand his former boss as untrustworthy.
Feeling betrayed by a President they overwhelmingly supported in the 2022 election, many Central Kenya residents are now gravitating toward opposition politics and increasingly identifying with other parties.
However, President Ruto is not giving up easily. The region delivered 47 percent of his total national vote, and he
