Ruto Storms Mt. Kenya After Gachagua’s Ouster – Will He Survive the Showdown?

After months of avoiding Mt. Kenya like a plague following the shocking impeachment of his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, President William Ruto is finally breaking his silence. His upcoming tour of the region is more than just a development visit—it’s a bold test of whether he still holds any real power in Gachagua’s backyard!

For a leader who once thrived on Mt. Kenya’s support, Ruto’s absence from this crucial region has been deafening. But now, in a desperate bid to reclaim lost ground, he is set to storm Nyandarua, Nyeri, Meru, and Tharaka Nithi with promises of development. His message? He’s not the enemy.

Ruto’s Camp in Damage Control Mode

Ruto’s allies in the region are working overtime to ensure his arrival isn’t met with hostility. Mobilization is in full swing, with politicians pleading for a warm reception and warning residents not to heckle the President.

Nyandarua Woman Representative Faith Gitau is pushing locals to turn out in droves, claiming Ruto’s visit will bring an end to stagnated projects and that Mt. Kenya will “never be the same again.”

“We must welcome the President. He’s here to deliver development, not division!” she declared, brushing off concerns about the ongoing political bloodbath in Parliament, where Gachagua’s allies have been ruthlessly purged.

UDA executive Kiruga Thuku is even spinning Ruto’s visit as a political masterstroke against those who claim the region has abandoned him.

“The President has always placed Mt. Kenya second only to God. He is here to remind us of that bond,” Thuku stated. But he also dropped a chilling remark: Supporting Ruto could cost them in 2027.

“For some of us, we are with him till the end, even if it ruins our careers. Unlike others, we won’t follow Gachagua blindly,” he warned.

A Battle of Political Survival

Ruto’s visit couldn’t have come at a more explosive time. It coincides with his political alliance with longtime rival Raila Odinga, as well as the brutal removal of Gachagua’s allies from powerful parliamentary committees.

Many believe this visit is a last-ditch attempt to calm a restless electorate that handed him over three million votes in 2022 but now feels increasingly betrayed.

His last trip to Mt. Kenya, on November 16, was a public relations disaster. At an event in Embu, he was met with icy silence while sharing the stage with Gachagua, Kithure Kindiki, and former President Uhuru Kenyatta. Since then, things have only gotten worse.

Ruto’s Allies Humiliated in Mt. Kenya

Ever since the Embu incident, Ruto’s camp has been humiliated at every turn in Mt. Kenya.

• Moses Kuria, his economic advisor, was booed off the stage at a Murang’a burial.
• Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika was heckled relentlessly while reading Ruto’s condolence message at a funeral.
• Public Service CS Justin Muturi was shut down by mourners in Embu, unable to deliver the President’s words.

The message was clear—Mt. Kenya isn’t buying what Ruto is selling.

Desperate Moves to Win Back Trust

Realizing his grip on the region was slipping, Ruto made a drastic move—appointing three Cabinet Secretaries from Mt. Kenya: Mutahi Kagwe (Agriculture), William Kabogo (ICT), and Lee Kinyanjui (Trade). This followed a secret meeting with Uhuru Kenyatta on December 9 at his Kiambu home.

But even with these appointments, Gachagua has only grown stronger. He has relentlessly attacked Ruto, accusing him of sidelining the region and calling UDA the most oppressive party in history.

UDA’s Stunning Snub of Mt. Kenya in Elections

If there were any doubts about Ruto’s diminishing influence in Mt. Kenya, UDA’s grassroots elections schedule erased them.

The party completely excluded Mt. Kenya from its April 11-12 elections, choosing instead to focus on regions like Kisii, Nyamira, Bungoma, Siaya, Mombasa, and Turkana.

Originally, counties like Nyandarua, Kiambu, Embu, Meru, Murang’a, Nyeri, and Kirinyaga were included, but now? They’re nowhere on the list.

Gachagua’s Camp: “Ruto Has Abandoned Mt. Kenya”

Allies of Gachagua aren’t mincing words. They claim Ruto’s visit is pointless, as his every action has shown he no longer values the region.

“Look at the Parliamentary purge—it targeted Mt. Kenya. The upcoming Cabinet reshuffle? It will hit Mt. Kenya again. Ruto is making sure no leader from this region rises. That’s why Gachagua is gone, why Ndindi Nyoro has been cut down, and why Mithika Linturi was removed from the Cabinet.”

Is This Ruto’s Final Stand?

With anger boiling over, allies defecting, and Gachagua tightening his grip, Ruto’s upcoming trip could be his biggest political gamble yet.

Will he convince Mt. Kenya to stand by him, or is he walking into a political minefield that could explode in his face?

The countdown has begun. Brace for impact.