Ruto Wraps Up Week-Long Mt Kenya Tour

President William Ruto concludes a week-long tour of the Mt. Kenya region this Saturday with planned visits to Kiambu and Nyeri counties. 

This marks his first return to the area in six months following the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The extensive tour, which began on April 1st, aimed to reaffirm Ruto’s political standing amidst recent political challenges. Throughout the week, Ruto visited Meru, Nyandarua, Kirinyaga, Tharaka Nithi, Murang’a, and Embu counties, encountering what has been described as an overwhelmingly positive reception. 

This response contrasts with prior concerns about potential hostility, given the ongoing political dynamics in the region. In Kiambu County, the President is scheduled to inspect significant infrastructure projects, including the Mau Mau Roads construction in Nyanduma, Lari, and the development of the Githunguri County Integrated Industrial Park. Additional projects under review include the construction of cold storage facilities at local markets and affordable housing initiatives, which aim to increase home ownership. 

The Nyeri County leg of the tour will feature the official launch of an affordable housing project in Ruringu, Nyeri Town Constituency, and the commissioning of a fresh produce market in Othaya Constituency. Kiambu County has emerged as a focal point of political activity. Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, a vocal critic of the Ruto administration and a staunch ally of the impeached Deputy President Gachagua, represents this area. Her persistent opposition to the Kenya Kwanza government has fueled speculation about underlying tensions. 

To counter this, Ruto recently appointed former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo as Cabinet Secretary for ICT, a move widely seen as an effort to strengthen his political foothold in the county. Despite this, key figures such as Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi remain strong supporters of the President. Observers suggest that Ruto’s tour has been largely successful in reinforcing his political control over Mt. Kenya. Addressing residents, Ruto emphasized his established connection with the region, dismissing attempts to sow division between him and the Mt. Kenya populace.

The tour also provided an opportunity for Ruto to address his relationship with his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, who was impeached by the Senate in October 2024. Since his impeachment, Gachagua has emerged as a vocal critic, uniting a faction of Mt. Kenya leaders against Ruto. In an interview on March 30th, Ruto accused Gachagua of attempting to blackmail him, alleging that his former deputy demanded Sh.10 billion in exchange for political stability in the region.

Amidst the political complexities, Homa Bay MP Peter Kaluma lauds Ruto’s tour as a success, arguing that concerns about hostility were unfounded. Kaluma, affiliated with ODM, describes the turnout in Mt. Kenya as “authentic and spontaneous,” dismissing any notions that the President's visit was met with resistance. He further suggests that Gachagua and his allies had "retreated" in the face of Ruto's growing influence.