Deputy President Kindiki Kithure. Photo/Newsflash
By Wanderi Kamau
President William Ruto’s formal coalition pact with ODM leader Raila Odinga has triggered a seismic shift in the political landscape of the Mt Kenya region, placing his remaining loyalists in an unenviable position as the once solid support base grows increasingly restless.
With Ruto now leaning on Raila for national unity and legislative stability, questions abound about the future of his dwindling group of Mt Kenya allies who now face the uphill task of defending the president in a region feeling politically abandoned.
The signing of the 10-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ruto and Raila effectively signaled the president’s strategic pivot away from Mt Kenya—a region that overwhelmingly backed his 2022 presidential bid.
In doing so, Ruto has not only alienated voters who delivered over 80 percent of their support to his Kenya Kwanza coalition but has also left key loyalists exposed and politically vulnerable.
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Those remaining in Ruto’s corner include Deputy President Kindiki Kithure, Kikuyu MP and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi, Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga, Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina, among a handful of others.
Their challenge now is monumental: how do they continue selling Ruto’s political gospel in a region feeling betrayed, particularly after the purge of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and the rise of Raila Odinga as a newfound partner in government?
“The political equation has drastically changed. These Mt Kenya leaders are now tasked with explaining why their people should continue supporting a government that seems to have sidelined them,” says political analyst Prof Peter Kagwanja.
“The handshake with Raila and the sidelining of Gachagua have left a bitter taste, and unless they can justify it to their electorate, they risk being swept away,” he says.
The Gachagua factor
The removal of Rigathi Gachagua from the heart of government operations and his allies from lucrative parliamentary committees has been interpreted in Mt Kenya as a clear move to weaken the region’s influence. The committees purge, which affected Gachagua loyalists, was not only symbolic but practical—cutting off key power levers that the region’s leaders used to advance local interests.
With Gachagua now repositioning himself as a voice of regional defiance, the task of Ruto’s loyalists like Wamumbi, Wamatinga, and Betty Maina becomes even harder. They must fend off growing regional anger while facing a resurgent Gachagua, who has taken up the mantle of Mt Kenya’s political grievance machine.
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“Without Gachagua’s strong presence in government, Ruto’s Mt Kenya allies lack a unifying figure to rally the base,” notes analyst Jane Wambui.
“They will struggle to maintain relevance if they are seen as mere puppets defending a government that appears to have given Mt Kenya the short end of the stick,” she tells Newsflash.
The Raila Alliance compilation
For decades, Raila has been viewed with deep skepticism in Mt Kenya, associated with past political rivalries and perceived economic marginalization. Ruto’s decision to bring Raila into the fold through the MoU will likely deepen resentment in the region.
“This is a delicate balance for Ruto’s allies. Selling a Ruto-Raila alliance in Mt Kenya is like selling ice in winter. The emotional political wounds between Raila and the region have never fully healed,” says political commentator Macharia Munene.
“These leaders risk being labeled as betrayers if they endorse this coalition publicly.”
What’s next for Ruto’s Mt Kenya allies?
In the immediate term, Ruto’s Mt Kenya allies will likely focus on defending the administration’s development record, pointing to projects and funding allocations.
However, with the perception of political exclusion growing, development rhetoric may not be enough to sway an increasingly disillusioned electorate.
Wamatinga recently found himself on the defensive, denying claims made by Gachagua that he was bribed to support the DP’s political downfall.
“I cannot be manipulated with money,” Wamatinga said, signaling the heightened tensions within the region’s political class.
On his part, Wamumbi, who inherited Gachagua’s former parliamentary seat, now finds himself in an awkward position—having to defend Ruto while tiptoeing around his predecessor’s growing popularity as a regional defender.
Meanwhile, Maina faces a delicate balancing act as she tries to maintain her pro-government stance without alienating her vocal grassroots supporters who are demanding answers about Mt Kenya’s diminishing stake in government.
Can they survive?
Ultimately, the political survival of Ruto’s Mt Kenya allies may depend on how well they can reframe the narrative. Analysts suggest they must adopt a more assertive regional agenda to prove that their continued support for Ruto benefits Mt Kenya.
“If they appear too submissive or indifferent to the region’s frustrations, they will be voted out in 2027,” warns Dr Wambui. “But if they push for tangible gains—jobs, infrastructure, and policy reforms—they might just hold on.”
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Still, the road ahead is treacherous.
With Gachagua leading a rebellion from the outside and Raila now cozying up to Ruto from the inside, Mt Kenya’s political terrain has become unpredictable.
For Ruto’s remaining loyalists, survival will require not only strategic messaging but a clear, demonstrable commitment to defending the region’s interests in a government where their influence is visibly waning.
