President William Ruto faces a high-stakes political dilemma as he prepares to tour the Mt. Kenya region following the dramatic sacking of Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justine Muturi.
The move has sent shockwaves through his United Democratic Alliance party, exposing deepening fissures in a region once considered his stronghold.
The dismissal of Muturi, a key ally from President Ruto’s 2022 campaign, has reignited simmering tensions in the vote-rich region, with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro now openly jostling for influence.
The recent truce between President Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga has further unsettled Mt. Kenya leaders, who view the détente as a betrayal. Despite Ruto’s attempts to extend an olive branch, skepticism runs deep.
“No amount of sweet talk will make our people forget that this government has failed to deliver on its promises,” Muturi said in a scathing exit interview. “The people of Mt. Kenya are not fools—they see the games being played.”
Political analyst Macharia Munene argues that Ruto’s alliance with Raila has backfired spectacularly in the region.
“The handshake has created a vacuum, and local leaders like Gachagua and Nyoro are rushing to fill it,” Munene told Kurunzi News “Ruto is walking on a tightrope.”
Gachagua, once Ruto’s most vocal defender in the region, has increasingly struck an independent tone, positioning himself as the region’s de facto spokesman.
“I speak for the people of Mt. Kenya, and I will not be silenced,” Gachagua declared at a recent fundraiser in Murang’a. “Our demands are clear—equitable development and respect.”
President Ruto’s planned tour of the region is seen as a damage-control mission, but even his staunchest allies admit the mood is frosty.
“The people feel shortchanged,” said Tharaka Nithi Senator Mwenda Gataya. “Unemployment is high, coffee and tea farmers are suffering, and now their leaders are being purged.”
Ruto’s promises of economic revival ring hollow for many. “We were told ‘Kazi Ni Kazi,’ but where are the jobs?” asked a trader in Karatina. “Now they’re shaking hands with Raila while our problems remain.”
Can Ruto Salvage the Situation?
President Ruto has downplayed the tensions, insisting his administration remains focused.
“We are committed to uniting the country and delivering for all Kenyans,” he said during a State House briefing.
But with Mt. Kenya’s loyalty in question and his own party fracturing, the road ahead is fraught.
“If Ruto doesn’t act fast, he risks losing the region entirely,” warns Munene. “And without Mt. Kenya, 2027 becomes a nightmare.”
