President William Ruto attends a service at the African Inland Church, Githumu in Kandara constituency, Murang’a County on May 03, 2026.
President William Ruto has acknowledged that he is facing difficulties in winning over the Mt Kenya region ahead of next year's General Election.
While acknowledging the growing hostility from a region that overwhelmingly voted for him in 2022, the President however said he is trusting in God that the voters in the region will soften their hearts and back his re-election bid.
“I know there is work to be done and many issues to be straightened. But with prayers even the most difficult situations will be made easy,” President Ruto said on Sunday.
The President made the remarks during a church service at the African Inland Church, Githumu in Kandara constituency, Murang’a County.
Sunday’s visit was President Ruto’s second tour of the county inside one week.
Following a bitter fallout with President Ruto and his subsequent impeachment, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is now leading the Mt Kenya rebellion.
But President Ruto said he will not tire from courting the region because of the commitment he made to the people of Mt Kenya, who he termed as “wise decision-makers who can even read the contents of a letter that is yet out of an envelope.”
“Do not keep me far from your hearts. Note that I am being fought using tribalism, malice, insults, lies… I will continue compiling my development scorecard so that I will table it for your evaluation ahead of the big vote,” President Ruto said.
The President also said he still treats himself as an ally of the Mt Kenya voting bloc, promising that all his pre-election pledges – and many more that have followed in his first term – will be fulfilled.
The President appealed for support from Mt Kenya region two days after he lamented about poor registration of new voters in Rift Valley.
Ruto’s renewed campaigns
Dr Ruto expressed disappointment at the poor numbers of newly registered voters in his backyard at a time he is being forced to beg for support in other regions.
Speaking during the burial ceremony for Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir’s father in Kipketii village, Bomet County, President Ruto said he was relying on his political stronghold to anchor his re-election bid.
At the same time, Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has revealed that campaign teams for the President have been formed in all Mt Kenya counties spearheaded by members of the executive, public companies as well as elected leaders.
President William Ruto greets Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome during a service at the African Inland Church, Githumu in Kandara constituency, Murang’a County on May 03, 2026.
“The recent progress report was that Murang’a County was problematic. It is being said that Murang’a is not teaming up with your re-election campaign. We are working to correct that problem,” Ms Wahome said on Sunday.
The Lands CS also said the government has so far put up 300,000 housing units against an annual target of 200,000 units.
Ms Wahome announced that President Ruto will make more visits to the region starting next month to launch development programmes.
Meanwhile, Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has dismissed President Ruto’s renewed campaigns in the region saying the President is campaigning for his self-centered goal of re-election without a care for the plight of the citizens.
“The president is sneaking back into the mountain to launch yet another deceptive nuptial ahead of 2027 but we are committed to evidence-based campaigns. Re-electing him will be a tragedy of unimaginable proportion,” Mr Nyutu said.
President William Ruto with the clergy and other leaders when he attended a service at the African Inland Church, Githumu in Kandara constituency, Murang’a County on May 03, 2026.
“President Ruto will also be evaluated by the failures of his administration, including the Gachagua impeachment betrayal, extrajudicial killings and abductions, runaway national debt and massive corruption,” the Senator said.
“The President should have announced the immediate release of Sh200 million that SHA owes Murang’a hospitals, direct the Central Region Security and Intelligence Committee to immediately address livestock and crop thefts as well as poor road network in the region,” he said.
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