President William Ruto’s administration has rolled out a four-pronged strategy to reclaim support in the Mt Kenya region from impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua .
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has been spearheading empowerment projects where he has assured residents that Dr Ruto’s government will deliver on its promises. He has held meetings with youth, women and elected leaders across the region, using development pledges to woo Mt Kenya voters back to the President’s camp.
At the same time, Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri is leading a caucus of elected leaders while another group, made up of women legislators, has been traversing the region under an empowerment drive.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki (left) former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and President William Ruto.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Mr Kiunjuri said his team will now engage voters directly to understand why Mt Kenya residents feel alienated from the Ruto administration.
The group which draws professionals from Mt Kenya and its diaspora kicked off its campaign on Saturday August 16 in Murang’a County. The initiative seeks to counter Mr Gachagua’s narrative that the region is being sidelined through the denial of development projects and dismissal of senior government officials from central Kenya.
The caucus, dubbed Jamii Imara Mashinani, brings on board professionals tasked with listening to the grassroots and, where possible, offering immediate solutions.
During its first public engagement at Kiru Secondary School in Mathioya Constituency, Murang’a, the team led by Public Health PS Mary Muthoni and Sports PS Elijah Mwangi combined a tree-planting exercise with a community dialogue forum.
“We are integrating tree planting in line with the President’s call to grow 15 billion trees, alongside community dialogue and breakout sessions showcasing the transformational progress of MDAs (Ministries, Departments, and Agencies),” Ms Muthoni said.
Residents were encouraged to air their grievances against the government they overwhelmingly backed in 2022.
“They do not hate President Ruto , whom they voted for almost to a man in 2022, but they are frustrated by unfulfilled promises—streamlining of healthcare, low returns from coffee and milk, and abandoned road projects. But that is changing, and the promises will be delivered,” said politician-cum-businessman Thuo Mathenge, who also chairs the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO).
PS Mwangi addressed concerns over claims that Mt Kenya was underrepresented in government. He listed senior officials from the region, including CSs, PSs and parastatal chiefs, to counter the narrative.
Weakened opposition voices
He also promised that construction on the Mau Mau Road would resume next month, saying cash flow problems and pending bills that stalled road projects were being resolved.
On milk prices, Mr Mwangi acknowledged that farmers were not receiving the Sh50 per litre earlier promised by President Ruto.
“The problem is that farmers cannot sell milk to New KCC because of the lack of coolers. I have spoken with my colleague at the State Department of Livestock, and coolers will be delivered here early next month to enable sales to KCC,” he assured.
Ms Muthoni also gave out her personal phone number, urging patients under the Social Health Authority who are denied treatment to contact her directly.
Separately, DP Kindiki has been running youth and women empowerment campaigns nationwide, although critics have dismissed them as handout sessions lacking a sustainable economic strategy.
Women MPs have also formed a caucus to “empower mama mboga,” with over 30 legislators launching their drive in Laikipia County last month.
Notably, these activation groups have sprung up during Mr Gachagua’s extended visit to the United States. His six-week absence appears to have weakened opposition voices, giving pro-government politicians space to mount counter-campaigns in Mt Kenya.
However, with Mr Gachagua now cutting short his US trip to focus on upcoming by-elections, the test will be whether these pro-Ruto groups can withstand his renewed political onslaught.
