How Mt Kenya tour politically ‘buried’ Ichung’wah, Kindiki & Mbarire

By Newsflash Writer

By all accounts, President William Ruto’s recent tour of the Mt Kenya region was meant to be a political litmus test—a barometer for assessing the state of his support in a region that played a pivotal role in his 2022 electoral victory.

But what was designed as a show of strength has seemingly turned into a political nightmare for three key allies: National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, and UDA national chairperson Cecily Mbarire.

Instead of organic enthusiasm, the tour has been marred by jeers, walkouts, and a conspicuous absence of grassroots excitement—raising serious questions about the trio’s standing in the region and within the ruling coalition.

A tour without organic crowds

Since day one of the Mt Kenya engagements, observers were quick to note the unusually tepid public response. In a region known for turning out in droves for political events, the absence of spontaneous crowds was impossible to ignore.

“There’s a sense that the people have grown politically fatigued,” said political analyst Prof Gitile Naituli. “But more importantly, they are disillusioned with the faces fronting the government in the region.”

Ichung’wah, who positioned himself as Ruto’s de facto political emissary in Mt Kenya after the dramatic impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, has borne the brunt of this public discontent. He was jeered at multiple stops including Nyandarua, Murang’a, Kiambu, Embu and Tharaka Nithi. The heckling was not a one-off; it became the defining soundtrack of his speeches.

At a rally in Kiambu, locals interrupted his address with chants of “hatuwataki” (we don’t want them), forcing organizers to cut his speech short. Despite the hostility, Ichung’wah pressed on, appearing increasingly isolated with each appearance.

“He bulldozed his way through the jeers. That was his biggest mistake,” noted analyst Javas Bigambo. “Rather than reading the mood and stepping back, he insisted on asserting authority that had already eroded.”

Face of Gachagua’s ouster, victim of fallout

Ichung’wah had earlier emerged as the public face of Gachagua’s impeachment, a move that many viewed as a betrayal of Mt Kenya’s political hierarchy. His role in fronting the impeachment motion appeared to gain him proximity to the President, but has also painted him as an opportunist in the eyes of the public.

“He might have thought aligning fully with Ruto would endear him to the people. But this region values loyalty,” said political commentator Martin Andati. “By turning on Gachagua, he signaled to the electorate that he could do the same to them.”

Further complicating matters is the perception that Ichung’wah has operated more from the Deputy President’s Karen residence than on the ground. Despite expectations of a grand homecoming after being touted as the region’s new political leader, no such event has materialized.

“He’s been living in the echo chamber of Nairobi politics,” Naituli added. “You can’t lead Mt Kenya from Karen.”

Kindiki’s quiet calculations yield no results

DP Kindiki had taken a more calculated approach. For months, he held closed-door meetings with delegations from different counties—an attempt to position himself as a moderate, unifying figure in a post-Gachagua political landscape.

But when the rubber met the road during the President’s tour, Kindiki had little to show for his months of quiet diplomacy.

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“He is brilliant and widely respected for his intellect, but politics requires more than that,” said Bigambo. “He is yet to stamp his authority, and this tour exposed that.”

Kindiki’s low-energy political presence has left many questioning whether he can command a following in a region where populist charisma often trumps academic credentials. “In politics, silence is not golden,” said a local UDA insider. “It is read as weakness.”

Mbarire’s grip on Embu unraveling

As UDA national chairperson and Embu governor, Mbarire was expected to rally her home county. Instead, both she and President Ruto were heckled in Embu. The most damning moment came when crowds walked out as Ichung’wah began to speak—on her turf.

“This should worry the UDA leadership,” Andati said. “If the chairperson can’t marshal support in her own backyard, then the party is not grounded in Mt Kenya.”

A palace coup in the making?

The consistent heckling raises a deeper question: was this a spontaneous grassroots revolt or a choreographed political sabotage?

“There’s definitely more than meets the eye,” said a senior UDA source who spoke on condition of anonymity. “There are powerful factions in Kenya Kwanza who want to see Ichung’wah cut down to size. He became too powerful, too quickly.”

The notion of internal sabotage gains credence when viewed against the backdrop of Ruto’s previous political divorces. He once counted Gachagua and Ndindi Nyoro as key allies—both have since fallen from grace. The same fate could befall Ichung’wah.

“What exempts him?” Naituli posed. “Ruto’s political history shows he’s willing to drop anyone who becomes a liability. Ichung’wah might just be the next casualty.”

Buried, not yet forgotten

While it’s too early to declare the political deaths of Ichung’wah, Kindiki, and Mbarire, the signs are unmistakable.

Their standing in Mt Kenya has taken a severe hit. Whether they can resurrect their fortunes depends not just on their personal strategies, but also on whether the region continues to feel alienated by the national leadership they helped build.

As the President moves forward, he may be forced to recalibrate his Mt Kenya team—and in doing so, leave some of his once-trusted allies behind.

“Politics is a brutal game,” Bigambo concluded. “And in Mt Kenya, the people have spoken loudly. The question is—who among the three is listening?”