President William Ruto on Saturday concluded a politically charged six-day tour of the Mt Kenya region that served as a test of his re-election prospects in 2027—and a high-stakes bid to reclaim a region that delivered him one of the biggest vote hauls in 2022 but has since grown increasingly restive.
The tour, which began Monday with a live interview on vernacular radio stations, saw President Ruto crisscross Laikipia, Meru, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Nyeri and Kiambu counties.
The region backed his 2022 presidential bid, handing him more than 87 percent of the vote, but a string of recent political developments—chief among them the fallout with his deputy Rigathi Gachagua —has shifted the ground.
While he was welcomed by cheering crowds in some towns, others responded with hostility, with some leaders openly critical of his leadership. Political analysts viewed the tour as both a confrontation and a gamble—an attempt to reclaim lost ground while confronting dissent in his political base.
President William Ruto addressing Othaya Town residents on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
Photo credit: DPCS
“This is a sweet surprise. The tour has turned out to be a sweet win for us. I now regain confidence that we are headed for greatness,” said Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri, a former Cabinet minister and close Ruto ally.
The Mt Kenya region has long played a pivotal role in determining the outcome of presidential elections.
In 2022, it was seen as Ruto’s political fortress, particularly after former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s endorsement of Raila Odinga failed to sway voters.
However, Ruto’s popularity in the region began to wane following the impeachment of Gachagua, a son of the region who had campaigned as Ruto’s running mate.
Gachagua has since styled himself as a defiant opposition leader, launching a vocal campaign against Ruto and urging Mt Kenya residents to sever ties with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
He has also promised to unveil a new party in May, which he says will be the vehicle to unseat Ruto in 2027.
“Even the ploy of creating Mt Kenya West and Mt Kenya East political blocs appeared to fall flat on its face when the President faced hostile crowds in Embu and Tharaka Nithi. This is a president and government headed for ouster in 2027,” said Gatanga MP Edward Muriu, a key Gachagua ally.
Despite the headwinds, Ruto used the tour to announce new development initiatives. Information, Communication and Digital Economy CS William Kabogo said the tour aimed to “leave every county with an average Sh850 million worth of development.”
Ruto also dangled the possibility of Cabinet posts and State appointments to politicians from Mt Kenya East, including former Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi and former Meru Governor Peter Munya.
Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe addresses Othaya town residents on the final day of President William Ruto's Mt Kenya development tour on April 5, 2025.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi | Nation Media Group
On day four of the tour, speaking in Murang’a County, Ruto made an emotional appeal to voters: “I have established friendship links with you since 2013. Do not cast me away over petty differences. I remain grateful for your votes that made me president... I will reciprocate that love.”
Mr Kiunjuri, reading from the mood in some of the rallies, said the tide could be turning: “From the 50 per cent we had earlier anticipated as our 2027 target, the happenings in this tour have made us increase the goal to 70 per cent.”
He added that defections from Gachagua’s camp were a clear signal: “We didn’t anticipate attracting politicians like Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga and Maragua MP Mary wa Maua, both of whom had been ardent Gachagua loyalists.”
Maragua MP decamps from Rigathi Gachagua’s side; says she’s ready to work with President Ruto
“Where you go, that is where I will go. Your people shall be my people. Your president will be my president. I’m now ready to serve as Ruto’s fixer at the grassroots,” she said, speaking at Maragua Ridge.
She revealed that she had been in talks with Deputy President Kindiki since November and with Ruto since December.
Former MP Kamande wa Mbuku termed it the “second crucifixion of Mr Gachagua,” adding that it lacked the blessing of Maragua voters and would be punished at the ballot box.
Former Ichagaki MCA Charles Mwangi declared his intention to run against Wa Maua in 2027: “We want nothing to do with the Ruto government. We held a sort of referendum when asked whether we supported Gachagua’s impeachment, and our people opposed it emphatically.”
Murang’a Youth Forum Chairman Mixson Warui dismissed wa Maua’s move as another last-minute defection: “In 2022 she delayed too long in Azimio before jumping ship. This time she’ll face the fury of voters.” The President’s allies also ran into trouble during the tour.
In Nyandarua County, Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah was heckled after making lewd remarks while attacking Gachagua.
“There is no way I’m going to buy fear from a man who has the same cargo in his anatomy as I do,” he said, referring to Gachagua.
Kimani Ichung’wah heckled in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County
Nyandarua Senator John Methu responded with fury: “President Ruto needs no enemies with the likes of Ichung’wa around him... He behaves as if he is the main switch of power and the oxygen of the electorate—both of which he is not.”
Senator Methu commended the crowd for humbling Ichung’wa: “He became confused and ended up thanking the people for heckling him.”
Gachagua, for his part, had sought to undermine the tour even before it began.
He cheekily advised residents to embrace the President’s visit—but only at a fee. He circulated a price list suggesting residents should demand Sh5,000 to cheer Ruto, Sh3,000 to ululate, Sh2,000 to laugh at his jokes, and Sh1,000 to raise their hands in support.
The President had reportedly kept off some parts of the region out of political embarrassment concerns.
Initial reports that a planned visit to Embu in November last year was shelved after he was booed at a burial. Loyalists such as Kinangop MP Kwenya Thuku were physically attacked.
Despite the risks, political observers say the fact that Ruto addressed crowds without major disruptions is significant.
“For someone to be ruled as outrightly rejected, we must see hostile crowds refusing to be addressed, see some violence here and there, or even denial of access to venues. That didn’t happen,” said political scientist John Okumu.
“While there were troublemakers in nearly all venues, no spirited act of hostility was directed at the President—only some of his loyalists.”
Mr Kiunjuri agreed: “This tells us that while the voters might be unhappy with some grassroots leaders, they are still willing to listen to the President. And that matters.”
Still, the region is no longer politically monolithic. Ruto himself put it bluntly: “I am still king of the Mountain. Those others are just brokers.” Whether the King can reclaim the entire Mountain in 2027 remains to be seen—but the battle for its soul is now fully underway.
