President William Ruto’s recent development tour of the turbulent Mt. Kenya region has provided him with insight into what to anticipate for his re-election bid in 2027.
Opinion is divided over the visit, as some leaders perceive the tour as thawing his relationship with the region, while others regard it as inconsequential.
Political analysts suggest that this five-day tour has revealed a shifting political landscape, indicating that the region, which once rallied behind him, is no longer a guaranteed support base for his campaign.
Instead of providing clear answers, the president’s visit has raised more questions among residents regarding their future direction and who genuinely represents their best interests.
Political analyst Gitile Naituli, a professor of management and leadership, commented that the Mt Kenya region is currently in turmoil.
“Was the president’s tour a mission to unite or further divide? Was it intended to reassure or intimidate? One thing is now clear: Political uncertainty looms large over the region.”
Other analysts believe the visit allowed Ruto to break the ice by directly engaging with his former supporters.
However, there is a consensus that regaining a firm foothold in the region will be a challenging task.
Notably, pundits agree that Ruto, known for his political acumen, has succeeded in overshadowing the impeached Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, and has enjoyed a warm reception from the residents.
Surprisingly, some of Gachagua’s allies, including Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, publicly announced that the region would not isolate itself from the government.
Maragua MP Mary Wamaua also stated her intention to collaborate with the government moving forward.
She emphasised her commitment to supporting Ruto’s leadership and urged Kenyans to give him the time needed to fulfil his promises.
“His Excellency, President Ruto, is in his final lap; allow him to do his work. When the time comes to hold him accountable in 2027, I know he will have delivered,” Wamaua said.
To some, her decision is seen as a significant blow to Gachagua’s camp, signalling a potential reshuffling of political allegiances in the mountain ahead of the 2027 elections.
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Kahiga remarked: “Today the President has brought development to us, and we want to assure him that no one should prevent him from visiting the region. We would like him to come as often as possible.”
However, Kahiga’s newfound support for the president was met with scepticism, given his history as a staunch Gachagua ally and his previous rallying cry of “kama mbaya mbaya” (if it’s bad, it’s bad).
The governor, however, later clarified that his stand has not changed.
During his visit, the president reaffirmed his commitment to fulfilling his pledges in areas such as water and sanitation, education, electricity, roads, and agricultural products, including tea, coffee, and dairy.
Veteran politician Njenga Mungai, a former MP for the larger Molo constituency, noted that Mt Kenya residents demonstrated political maturity during the president’s visit, despite radicalising statements made by some regional leaders that sought to polarise the Kikuyu community against the government.
“The warm reception the president received resonated throughout the country, particularly in areas where people expected humiliation during his tour,” Mungai commented.
Kenyans should rise above petty political differences, come together, and focus on addressing developmental issues. Citizens will always have the opportunity to express their opinions through the ballot.
As chairman of the Jubilee Party’s council of elders, Mungai believes that the visit marked a new chapter in President Ruto’s engagement with the region, which had previously directed its anger towards him following the impeachment of Gachagua.
He emphasised that now the president has a second chance to fulfil his commitments made during the tour, which include increasing raw milk prices, streamlining the tea and coffee sectors, and addressing the region’s infrastructural needs.
“Now that he has demonstrated leadership by reaching out to the region, it is only fair that the people give him time to make their assessments and form their verdict in 2027,” Mungai added.
He cautioned against engaging in “politics of hatred, ethnicity, and animosity as strategies for galvanising regional support.”
Koigi Wa Wamwere, another veteran politician, expressed surprise at the warm welcome the president received during the tour.
However, he is convinced that this visit did not alter the perceptions of Mt Kenya residents towards Ruto’s administration, which he claims has failed to deliver.
Wamwere stated: “Currently, the battle in Mt Kenya is between politics of ethnicity, propagated by Gachagua and his allies, and politics of money, which President Ruto is using to gain a foothold in the region.”
He added, “The president has unleashed his financial resources to mobilise people, as politics is all about perception. The crowds were less hostile than I had expected, considering the hate campaign launched by his opponents in the region.”
The former fiery politician and political detainee stated that the president “is an accomplished political strategist who knows how to use both rewards and consequences simultaneously. His opponents underestimate him at their peril.”
“Given the massive crowds that welcomed him across the region, the president seems to have broken the ice and has a chance to regain some support here,” Wamwere said.
He noted that the successful visit opened a new opportunity for the president to embark on similar engagements in the region.
Wamwere observed, however, that the president faces a significant task in rallying the region behind him, especially given the socio-economic challenges affecting the country and his unfulfilled promises to the Mt. Kenya region, which had placed its hopes in him.
Ms Jayne Kihara, the Naivasha MP and a close ally of Gachagua, commented that the people of Central Kenya had fallen out with Ruto due to his shift from the support base he had during the campaigns.
“Central Kenya stood firm for Ruto during the last elections, but shockingly, he decided—for reasons known only to him—to turn against them,” she said.
However, Rongo MP Jared Okello acknowledged the complicated relationship Mt. Kenya has had with presidents not from the region.
“From the beginning, when President Moi took over from Mzee Kenyatta, sections of Kikuyu leadership were sceptical of Moi’s presidency. The transition to multiparty politics only intensified opposition, with key figures from Mt Kenya at the forefront of the movement to remove Moi from power,” he observed.
Okello observed that the current administration appears to be repeating history, with a familiar push to undermine a president who isn’t from the region.
“This trend is not about the performance of leadership; it’s about sustaining a political pattern that has historically favoured a select few,” he said.Kimani Ngunjiri, the immediate former Bahati MP and a close associate of President Ruto before their recent split, described the president’s development tour of the Mt. Kenya region as significant.
“Although his tour might not yield immediate results, it is essential, especially given the frustrations many in the region feel towards him due to recent political events. It may not win them back right away, but it carries considerable importance,” Ngunjiri stated.
He expressed the view that the president has gained a better understanding of the challenges in the region and that by engaging with them, he has recognised the political strength of this vote-rich area and its importance to his political future.
“The pride is now gone. President Ruto has come to understand that he cannot underestimate the mountain region,” the former legislator noted.
However, he expressed doubts about Ruto regaining the strong support he once had in Mt. Kenya, particularly in the lead-up to the last general election.
“In my opinion, if the president continues to engage with Mt. Kenya, he is likely to regain between 25 and 30 per cent of votes from the region by 2027,” Ngunjiri predicted.
He advised Kikuyu community members to approach the presidency with respect and to avoid isolating themselves from other communities due to political differences.
“I wish to remind my brothers and sisters from the mountain that politics can change at any moment. We need to embrace other communities. We in the diaspora understand how crucial it is to foster peace and unity among all ethnic groups,” he remarked.
Ngunjiri added, “The Mt. Kenya people should continue to engage with the government and demand development, just like other regions do. The region cannot form the government and then withdraw, allowing other regions to progress while they remain isolated.”
For his part, Samson Mwangi, the former mayor of the defunct Naivasha Municipality, stated that Mt. Kenya residents have chosen not to confront the president and are instead waiting for the right moment to express their views.
“I had an opportunity to interact with the residents of Mt. Kenya during the president’s visit, and I found that people have decided to tolerate him rather than express their anger,” Mwangi added.
He mentioned that punitive taxes and other economic policies detrimental to Mt. Kenya residents, which have led to the collapse of businesses, have made it difficult for the president to rebuild relationships with the region that initially supported his bid.
“The people of Mt. Kenya trusted the president and gave him a chance to lead them, but he failed to meet their expectations. It will be hard for him to convince them that he was their best option come 2027,” Mwangi concluded.
