Ruto’s Mt Kenya Tour: A bitter 2027 lesson for allies

By Suleiman Mbatiah

President William Ruto’s highly anticipated five-day development tour of the Mt Kenya region, which concluded on Saturday, was meant to consolidate support and showcase progress ahead of the 2027 general election.

Instead, it exposed gaping cracks within his Kenya Kwanza coalition, leaving behind a trail of political casualties and forcing a sobering reassessment of loyalty, strategy, and leadership in a region once thought to be securely under his grip.

The Mt Kenya region, which delivered nearly half of Ruto’s 7.1 million votes in 2022, has been simmering with discontent since the controversial impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in October 2024. Ruto’s April 1–5 tour, peppered with promises of roads, industrial parks, and agricultural reforms, was intended to reaffirm his influence. But the mixed reception—ranging from enthusiastic applause to open hostility—revealed a region at odds with its new political direction.

For National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, the tour turned into a political nightmare. During a stopover in Nyandarua County, his attempt to rally support was drowned out by jeers from an angry crowd accusing him of betraying local interests. “You’ve sold us out!” one attendee shouted, as others dismissed his appeals for unity.

Ichung’wah blamed the disruption on rival factions, accusing local leaders of orchestrating the heckling. “No one can shout me down. I cannot be intimidated,” he insisted. However, when similar jeers erupted in his own backyard of Lari, Kiambu County, it was clear the discontent was not isolated.

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, once a commanding political force in the region, received a cold reception in Kagio market. Her speech praising Ruto’s development agenda was met with murmurs and scattered boos. Many in the crowd, disillusioned by economic hardship, seemed unmoved by her call for continued support for the President—suggesting her influence is on the decline.

In Kiambu, Women Representative Anne Wamuratha faced perhaps the most hostile crowd of the tour. As she urged residents to support Ruto’s agenda, chants of “Rigathi! Rigathi!” rang out.

One young man shouted, “Go back to Nairobi, you’ve forgotten us!” Wamuratha struggled to complete her remarks, a sign that her alignment with Ruto has cost her dearly in local credibility.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Ruto’s appointee after Gachagua’s ouster, received a polite but tepid reception in Meru. His technocratic appeal failed to inspire the kind of emotional loyalty Ruto needs from the region. Similarly, Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina’s speech in Karugia fell flat, underscoring the disconnect between Kenya Kwanza surrogates and the grassroots.

Observers say the heckling was not just noise but a political verdict. “This was a litmus test,” said Nakuru-based political analyst Robert Makokha. “Ruto now knows who can deliver votes and who’s become a liability. The heckling wasn’t just noise—it was a message from the people.”

Beyond Mt Kenya, the tour was a carefully staged show of strength aimed at reassuring regions like Western, Coast, Northeastern, and Eastern Kenya of Ruto’s enduring grip on the mountain vote. In Kiambu, he boldly declared, “I am the kingpin of this region,” earning cheers from loyalists. But the reality on the ground—inconsistent crowds, visible tension, and open rebellion—told a more complicated story.

Ruto’s narrative of development found some success in places like Narumoru, Nyeri County, where hundreds of boda boda riders clad in “Kazi Bila Break” jackets cheered him on. Yet even these moments were overshadowed by the lingering presence of Gachagua, whose rallying cry—“Take Ruto’s money but not his promises”—appeared to have struck a chord in more skeptical corners of the region.

Reports of elders and local groups being paid to attend the rallies sparked criticism. “He can’t buy loyalty forever,” said governance expert Dr. Peter Mbae. “The heckling shows that some allies are too toxic to keep. Anyone from Mt Kenya who participated in Gachagua’s impeachment has no reelection chance.”

In Nyeri, Governor Mutahi Kahiga welcomed Ruto warmly, expressing gratitude for development funds and urging him to visit more often. However, he later clarified via Facebook that his presence was ceremonial, not political.

“Do not read too much into this photo… The presidency must be respected,” he wrote, signaling that while he would cooperate for the sake of development, his political allegiance remained uncertain.

Ruto closed the tour in Othaya with a veiled statement: “Soon I will be visiting you people so often that you’ll wonder if I have nowhere else to go.” While framed as a commitment to the region, it also revealed a sense of unease—an acknowledgment that all is not well in his once-reliable stronghold.

As the dust settles, the political landscape in Mt Kenya has shifted. Once-loyal allies like Ichung’wah and Waiguru now face uncertain futures. Ruto must reassess his inner circle, find new political lieutenants, and engage more deeply with grassroots concerns.

Development alone won’t secure Mt Kenya’s vote. The region has declared itself unbought, unbowed, and unwilling to be taken for granted.