Show of unity: Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi. Photo/Rigathi Gachagua/X
By Wanderi Kamau
President William Ruto has suffered a significant political blow in the Mt Kenya East region following a high-profile defection led by former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi.
In a move that has reshaped the region’s political landscape, Linturi on Thursday, April 24, 2025, led a powerful delegation of Meru leaders to meet former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, signaling a shift in allegiance and throwing into question the president’s grip on a region he once relied on heavily.
The delegation included former Igembe North MP Maoka Maore and other grassroots leaders from Meru, marking what analysts have described as “a political earthquake” in Mt Kenya East, which comprises Meru, Embu, and Tharaka-Nithi counties.
“Linturi’s defection, coming just weeks after Ruto hinted at reconciling with him and Peter Munya, tells a deeper story of broken trust and political betrayal,” said political analyst Naomi Muthoni. “It’s a strong statement that Mt Kenya East is no longer guaranteed territory for the president.”
From ally to adversary
Once a close ally of Ruto, Linturi did not mince words as he laid bare the frustrations that pushed him away from the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Speaking during the meeting with Gachagua, Linturi accused President Ruto’s inner circle of sacrificing him during the fallout from the fake fertiliser scandal, in which he was portrayed as the central figure.
“I was thrown under the bus by people who pretended to be my colleagues,” said Linturi. “Ruto’s own men fixed me to save themselves. I’ve been used and discarded.”
He added that his relationship with Head of Public Service Felix Koskei had irreparably deteriorated, further deepening the rift between him and State House. “How can I work with people who sabotage me from within? It became clear that I was no longer welcome in Ruto’s government,” he said.
Linturi’s remarks came just weeks after President Ruto publicly declared that he was in talks with both Linturi and Munya—an attempt to neutralize rising political tensions in Meru. But Munya, a former Agriculture CS and Meru governor, flatly rejected the overture.
“I don’t need any appointment from Ruto. My focus is on the 2027 Meru gubernatorial race,” said Munya. “Ruto’s overtures are political gimmicks aimed at damage control.”
A region in rebellion
Political watchers say the revolt in Meru is emblematic of a broader problem facing President Ruto in Mt Kenya East. His Deputy President, Kithure Kindiki—who hails from Tharaka-Nithi—has been spearheading efforts to consolidate the region’s support, but the recent turn of events suggests a serious internal crisis.
“Gachagua’s re-emergence as the face of Mt Kenya resistance is a direct challenge to Kindiki’s influence and Ruto’s overall strategy in the region,” noted political analyst Martin Gikonyo. “Mt Kenya East is slipping through Ruto’s fingers.”
Read more:Are Ruto’s Mt Kenya crowds organic?
The impeachment of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, who has accused Ruto of orchestrating her ouster, has only worsened matters. “The president has been playing high-stakes politics in Meru, and it has backfired,” added Gikonyo.
Kawira’s allegations, coupled with the rising discontent among former allies like Linturi and Munya, point to a growing perception in Mt Kenya East that Ruto’s leadership style is punitive and dismissive of local leaders.
Embu, Tharaka-Nithi not immune
The political tremors are not confined to Meru. In Embu, Ruto’s recent sacking of Public Service CS Justin Muturi and the appointment of Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku has sparked quiet dissent. While Ruku’s elevation was meant to soothe local discontent, insiders say it has instead deepened divisions.
Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire has been struggling to mobilize support for Ruto, with many locals questioning her loyalty to regional interests. “Mbarire’s closeness to Ruto has made her politically vulnerable,” said an Embu county official who requested anonymity. “The people feel disconnected from her leadership.”
Meanwhile, in Tharaka-Nithi, Kindiki’s influence appears to be waning as grassroots leaders question his silence over the fertiliser scandal and his perceived inability to advocate for the region’s needs in national politics.
Gachagua’s return
At the heart of this unfolding drama is Rigathi Gachagua, the former Deputy President who has found a second wind in the current political chaos. With Ruto distancing himself from Gachagua and positioning Kindiki as his likely successor, Gachagua has increasingly portrayed himself as the true voice of Mt Kenya.
Read more:Muturi to boycott Ruto’s Mt Kenya tour
“Ruto abandoned the people who helped him climb the mountain,” said Gachagua during the Thursday meeting. “I will not abandon my people in their hour of need.”
Political experts say Gachagua’s comeback is a direct result of Ruto’s miscalculations in handling regional dynamics. “Gachagua is capitalizing on Ruto’s political wounds,” observed Muthoni. “And he’s finding ready allies among those who feel used, betrayed, or ignored.”
Looking ahead
With Linturi and Munya now firmly opposed to the president, and local leaders expressing frustration, poliical analysts say that the writing is on the wall, Mt Kenya East is no longer a reliable base for William Ruto. What was once a stronghold is now a battleground, and Gachagua appears to be winning.
“The next election will be shaped significantly by what happens in Mt Kenya East,” concluded Gikonyo. “If Ruto continues to alienate key players, he risks facing a regional revolt that could cost him nationally.”
As the political chessboard reshapes itself ahead of 2027, one thing is clear—Mt Kenya East has spoken, and it no longer echoes the voice of William Ruto.
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