Ruto dispatches Oscar Sudi to reclaim back Mt Kenya

By Wanderi Kamau

President William Ruto has dispatched his trusted political ally Oscar Sudi to spearhead a charm offensive aimed at winning back the politically critical Mt Kenya region.

In what is seen as a high-stakes mission to reclaim dwindling support, the Kapseret MP led a powerful delegation to Kiambu County on Sunday for a series of high-profile events — the latest move in what analysts describe as a recalibrated political strategy driven by intelligence and financial muscle.

Sudi led a delegation of MPs allied to Ruto at a fundraiser at Gathaithi PCEA Church in Githunguri, but later joined Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa, and other MPs at an “empowerment” program fundraiser for mama mbogas and boda boda riders in Kiambaa.

The back-to-back events underscored a well-coordinated campaign targeting both the church and the hustler economy — two critical constituencies in Mt Kenya.

The Gathaithi church fundraiser was not just a spiritual affair but a stage-managed political show of force. Among the MPs accompanying Sudi were Kiambu Woman Rep Anne Wamuratha, Laikipia Woman Rep Jane Kagiri, Gatundu North MP Elijah Kururia, and nominated MP Sabina Chege — all staunch Ruto loyalists.

“If there are people who are supposed to be proud of the Kenya Kwanza government, it’s the Mt Kenya electorate,” Sudi said at Kiambaa. “This is your government… we shall come to do empowerment programs here — in Kururia’s constituency, in mine [Kapseret], and elsewhere. The President and the Deputy President will construct roads.”

Despite reported instructions not to announce the amount raised at Gathaithi church, Sudi defiantly disclosed the donations — a gesture interpreted by observers as a deliberate show of political generosity, aimed at captivating the church and the grassroots.

Strategy of empowerment, emotion, and influence

According to political analyst Prof Gitile Naituli, the move marks “a strategic use of emotional appeal and direct engagement to reconnect with a base that has grown disillusioned.” Naituli adds, “Ruto’s recent tour of Mt Kenya didn’t land well. He’s now deploying loyalists with charisma and grassroots pull — and Sudi fits that profile. He is controversial, but he resonates with the hustler narrative.”

Behind the scenes, the political theatrics are deeply calculated. Newsflash has learned that Sudi’s Mt Kenya campaign is backed by briefings from the National Intelligence Service (NIS), which provided him with targeted messaging designed to resonate with the local electorate.

This includes focusing on the popular “empowerment” narrative — programs aimed at mama mbogas, boda boda riders, and youth groups. It’s the same playbook Ruto used with significant success during the 2022 campaign.

“The empowerment narrative is powerful because it taps into economic frustrations,” says political commentator Mercy Ndegwa.

“But this time, the terrain is different. There’s growing skepticism among Mt Kenya voters who feel short-changed by the Kenya Kwanza administration. Sudi’s job is not just to excite the crowd — he must rebuild trust.”

Sunday’s events were the first of many in a planned series of grassroots engagements. Newsflash understands that Sudi has been assigned a semi-official role of leading multiple church fundraising events across Mt Kenya in the coming weeks — part of a broader strategy to reclaim the moral and political backing of the church, a historically influential force in the region.

Ruto’s declining popularity

The move is also seen as an attempt to counter the rising influence of opposition figures and internal dissent within Mt Kenya, where some Kenya Kwanza MPs have publicly expressed frustration over unfulfilled promises and growing economic hardship. President Ruto’s own approval ratings in the region have slipped in recent months, with murmurs of discontent among key voting blocs.

On Monday, Ruto himself met with a section of clergy from Kiambu County, signaling the administration’s intent to re-engage the religious establishment. But observers argue that the President’s presence alone may not be enough to sway public opinion.

“This is not just about visibility,” says Edward Khamisi a political communications expert. “It’s about regaining legitimacy. Mt Kenya voters are transactional and pragmatic. They supported Ruto in 2022, but they now demand tangible returns. That’s why Sudi’s campaign is couched in the language of empowerment and economic upliftment.”

Gachagua responds

However, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua responded cryptically to the renewed push, taking a veiled swipe at Ruto’s tactics.

“Same script, same actor, different times, same but enlightened audience. Empowerment of mama mbogas and boda boda, and trickery meetings with the clergy — you can fool some people some time, but you can’t fool all the people, all the time,” said Gachagua through his social media.

Gachagua’s comment, interpreted by insiders as a sharp rebuke of Ruto’s reliance on optics and money-fueled outreach, underscores the growing tension within Kenya Kwanza’s top leadership — and the increasingly competitive race for Mt Kenya’s political heart.

The deployment of Sudi — a man known more for his fiery rhetoric than diplomatic finesse — is also seen as a gamble. Political analysts told Newsflash tha Sudi’s polarizing style may energize some but alienate others.

Still, the fact that he is backed by heavyweights like Ichung’wa and Kindiki suggests a coordinated effort sanctioned from the very top.