Wamuzi News Ke
A fresh political storm is brewing among MPs aligned with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, the Azimio coalition, and President William Ruto over government appointments.
Lawmakers from the Gusii region are accusing President Ruto of sidelining their community in key appointments, despite his promise of an inclusive government.
Speaking during a funeral service at Kebirigo Central SDA Church in West Mugirango on February 7, West Mugirango MP Stephen Mogaka and Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji expressed frustration, claiming the Gusii community has been left out in Ruto’s recent power-sharing deals, particularly after his partnership with Raila Odinga.
“This is the right time for the president to acknowledge the contributions of the Gusii people by appointing them to government positions. We are also Kenyans, and our input matters in nation-building,” said Mogaka.
The MPs also threw their weight behind a potential 2027 presidential bid by former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, calling for unity in the region to push their leaders into influential government roles.
“We must think ahead and strategize. Supporting leaders like Matiang’i and Mogaka will help us gain influence in government,” Mukunji remarked.
These concerns follow previous accusations by Gusii leaders that the Ruto administration has abandoned key projects in their region, including an airport project that was scheduled to begin in 2022 but has since stalled.
Meanwhile, leaders aligned with Raila Odinga in the broad-based government have secured top government positions, including John Mbadi (Treasury), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum), Hassan Joho (Mining), Beatrice Askul (EAC), and Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives and MSME Development).
Despite these complaints, President Ruto has continued to strengthen ties with the Nyanza region by launching development projects. However, growing discontent in Gusii suggests his administration may face pushback from regions feeling excluded from his power-sharing arrangements.
Stephen Musungu
