Wamucomba: Ruto trying to calm Gachagua impeachment heat

By Newsflash Reporter

Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamucomba has accused President William Ruto of using his current tour of the Mt Kenya region to diffuse growing tensions following the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Speaking on Inooro FM’s morning show ‘Hagaria’ on Tuesday, April 1st, Wamucomba claimed that Ruto’s advisors miscalculated the public response to Gachagua’s removal, which has only intensified political unrest.

“Ruto’s aim is to cool the ground following former Deputy Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment. Those who advised him to impeach Gachagua told him that the ground would cool down in a month’s time. However, this has not happened. Instead, the political temperature has increased more. This is what has birthed the ‘Ruto Must Go’ campaign, which has spread everywhere… among the young and the old,” she stated.

Wamucomba emphasized that the president’s visit to the region is not motivated by genuine concern but rather by a need to manage the growing rebellion. She argued that Ruto’s attempts to engage leaders and citizens in Mt Kenya are an afterthought, prompted by the realization that Gachagua’s ouster had backfired politically.

Development projects as a distraction?

Wamucomba alleged that the president is using development projects as a strategy to distract the public from the ongoing crisis.

“To cool this down, he’s hiding on development projects,” she said, suggesting that Ruto’s administration is more focused on public relations than addressing the grievances of Mt Kenya residents.

She further pointed out that while Ruto is launching various infrastructure and agricultural projects in the region, many of them were already planned long before Gachagua’s impeachment. According to her, the president’s renewed focus on Mt Kenya is a sign of desperation rather than a genuine commitment to development.

Coffee Fund controversy

One of her most damning claims was regarding government funding in the coffee sector. Wamucomba accused Ruto of dishonesty about the amount allocated to the Coffee Cherry Fund, an initiative aimed at supporting coffee farmers.

“Ruto is lying that he has put Sh6 billion in the Coffee Cherry Fund. I have evidence that Ruto never did that. Instead, he put only Sh2.1 billion. Ruto is a liar, and I can’t defend him for that,” she declared.

Coffee farmers, who form a significant voting bloc in Mt Kenya, have expressed concerns over delayed payments and reduced government support. Wamucomba’s claims have only added to their frustrations, with some now openly questioning whether Ruto’s government is committed to improving their livelihoods.

Growing discontent in Mt Kenya

Her remarks have added fuel to the fire, as discontent continues to grow in Mt Kenya, a region that played a crucial role in Ruto’s election victory. The emergence of the ‘Ruto Must Go’ campaign, once seen as fringe opposition, has gained momentum, with many residents feeling alienated by the government’s actions.

While Ruto has maintained that his administration is committed to economic growth and development, critics argue that his Mt Kenya tour is a desperate attempt to reclaim dwindling support. As the political temperature continues to rise, the question remains whether Ruto can effectively address the dissatisfaction or if his efforts will only deepen the crisis.