President William Ruto addressing his supporters in Murang'a in a recent tour. Photo/PCS
By Newsflash Correspondent
Emerging political tremors across Mt Kenya are increasingly pointing to a sobering reality for President William Ruto—he may never have truly conquered the vote-r rich region, despite overwhelming support in the 2022 General Election.
A string of recent incidents, shifting allegiances, and grassroots resistance suggest that the political grip Ruto once seemed to wield is steadily slipping.
Public rejection at grassroots events
The most striking sign came on Wednesday, 9 April, 2025, during a funeral at Murugara Primary School in Mathira, Nyeri County. A Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi, a close ally of the President and a staunch defender of the Kenya Kwanza administration, was heckled by mourners as he attempted to attack Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The tension escalated when a cleric tried to cut him off mid-speech, but Wamumbi resisted, sparking chaos and an embarrassing spectacle.
“The people of Mt Kenya are not fools. They know who stands with them and who does not. The ground is shifting because promises have not been delivered,” said James Njoroge, a political analyst.
The same day, Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina was also forced to calm down her supporters during a meeting that turned rowdy—another public sign of discontent bubbling at the grassroots level.
Tensions within the ruling coalition
On Sunday, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah publicly condemned the attack on Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua by hired goons at Mwiki PCEA Church in Kasarani. Known for his composure, Ichung’wah took an unusually firm tone.
“We cannot and should not allow political violence, especially targeted at our own Deputy President. Such actions are not just shameful—they are destructive to the unity of our party and the country,” he said.
Read more:Are Ruto’s Mt Kenya crowds organic?
Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a, another Ruto loyalist, echoed the condemnation. “We must condemn such attacks in the strongest terms possible. Disagreements are allowed in politics, but what we witnessed at Mwiki was wrong,” she added.
Kahiga’s political about-turn
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga’s recent shift in tone has raised eyebrows. Once a staunch Ruto ally, Kahiga has increasingly voiced frustration over the treatment of Mt Kenya leaders and the lack of progress on promises made during the 2022 campaign.
“The truth must be told. Our region supported this government overwhelmingly. But now, there are people trying to isolate our Deputy President and silence our voices,” Kahiga said at a recent event.
According to political observers, Kahiga’s statement reflects growing concerns that the region’s loyalty is being taken for granted.
Rising claims of intimidation
Further signs of discontent emerged with the police summoning of Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba over alleged incitement. Wamuchomba has been vocal about the high cost of living and rising taxes under the Kenya Kwanza administration. Her summons is being interpreted by her supporters as a move to silence government critics.
“It’s clear they want to silence voices speaking truth to power. But we won’t be cowed,” Wamuchomba wrote on her social media platforms.
Political commentator Martin Gichuhi believes these incidents are part of a larger political shift.
Read more:How Mt Kenya tour politically ‘buried’ Ichung’wah, Kindiki & Mbarire
“The Gachagua-Ruto rift is just the tip of the iceberg. What we are witnessing is a political betrayal narrative gaining traction in Mt Kenya,” he explained. “This is no longer about personalities—it’s about the region’s economic frustrations and political relevance in Ruto’s government.”
With visible fractures, growing dissatisfaction, and open defiance, the myth of President Ruto’s total grip on Mt Kenya appears to be unraveling. The coming months will be critical, especially as the region recalibrates its political loyalties ahead of 2027.
