Mt Kenya political shifts, and now it’s a battlefield for former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and President William Ruto. The Mt. Kenya region is an important area in Kenyan politics and is now experiencing big changes as tensions rise between President William Ruto and local leaders.
In the 2022 General Election, many people in this region supported Ruto, but now there is growing disappointment.
This is partly due to the controversial impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Ruto’s efforts to connect with other parts of the country.
Recently, some well-known figures, like Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu and Gatundu North MP Njoroge Kururia, have openly criticised the people of Mt Kenya for what they see as a decline in loyalty.
They believe Ruto’s actions, especially his decision to set aside Gachagua, who comes from Mt Kenya, show a change in his strategy.
“The president pushed Gachagua aside and is now visiting the mountain,” Nyamu said, implying that Ruto is trying to regain support as loyalties shift.
The removal of Gachagua in October 2024 has stirred up tensions and created divisions in the region. Although Ruto has appointed Kithure Kindiki, another native of Mt Kenya, to be the new Deputy President, many local residents and grassroots leaders are doubtful about his ability to bring the region together.
Political experts say that Kindiki has a tough job ahead to gather support for Ruto as the 2027 elections approach. Some people even accuse the government of trying to divide the region’s once-strong voting power.
Former Deputy President Gachagua is still active and has not disappeared from the political scene. In a passionate speech in Naivasha on March 29, he called on the people of Mt. Kenya to resist Ruto’s attempts, claiming the region has been let down.
“We are done with UDA,” Gachagua said, referring to Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance party, and mentioned the possibility of creating a new political group by May to better represent Mt Kenya’s interests.
Ruto has started a five-day visit to the region, which is described as a mission to discuss development. He plans to visit eight counties to open new projects and check on ongoing ones.
However, many see this visit as a test of his popularity in Mt. Kenya. Supporters like Deputy President Kindiki and Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah are trying to rally people, putting up billboards and rallying local leaders, but many are still uncertain.
“This is about fixing relationships after the disagreements,” said a political observer in Nyeri, who wished to remain anonymous.
The changing situation in Mt Kenya also has national implications. Ruto’s recent partnership with opposition leader Raila Odinga, whose Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has traditionally struggled in Mt Kenya, adds more complexity to the region’s politics.
Some leaders worry this alliance could push away Mt Kenya voters, leading to calls for reevaluating political partnerships before the 2027 elections.
“Tuliguza Murima, tumerudi sasa kuwaweka kidole kwa matako”
— jim Njue (@jimNjue_) April 1, 2025
-Karen Nyamu pic.twitter.com/sYAJeVl26X
