Gachagua allies retreat ahead of Ruto's planned Mt Kenya tour

Most of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s allies from Mt Kenya have made a strategic retreat, toning down their verbal attacks as President William Ruto prepares to tour the region.

Gachagua, Ruto’s former ally-turned-critic, has also scaled back his political rhetoric against the President in what observers see as a deliberate effort to ease political tensions.

Since reports emerged about Ruto’s planned visit to Mt Kenya, Gachagua has significantly reduced political meetings at his Wamunyoro residence and has largely avoided hosting delegations of politicians from the region.

Many of Gachagua’s once-outspoken allies, who had been vocal in their criticism of Ruto, are now carefully choosing their words as they await the President’s tour, which Ruto’s camp believes could be a game changer.

Rather than directly attacking the President or the government, Gachagua’s allies have shifted their strategy.

They are now urging the head of state to revive stalled development projects and ensure their completion.

At the same time, they have opted for a diplomatic approach, avoiding Ruto’s meetings to signal their political differences with him.

They snubbed Ruto's State House meetings with elected and appointed leaders from the Mt Kenya region recently.

Speaking on TV47, Kajiado North MP Onesmus Ngogoyo explained their new stance, saying they have decided against engaging in confrontational politics with the President.

"President Ruto is the least of our concerns as the people of Mt Kenya. We do not sit down to discuss William Ruto, but rather, the things he is doing. We have decided that we will not attend any of his meetings," he said.

Meanwhile, Ruto’s allies have intensified grassroots mobilization efforts in preparation for the highly anticipated tour, the first of its kind in Mount Kenya since August 2024.

Although the exact dates and itinerary remain closely guarded by the State House, indications suggest the tour will begin in the first week of April.

On March 26, Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku, a close ally of Ruto, stated that the tour would focus on showcasing the President’s achievements over the past two and a half years in office.

"President Ruto is going to Mt Kenya to present his scorecard for the past two years. He will outline what he promised and delivered, focusing on development politics, not tribal or ethnic politics," Ruku said during a TV47 talk show.

He added that the President’s visit is part of his broader mandate to ensure equitable development across the country.

However, Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu questioned the timing of Ruto’s visit, coming just months after Gachagua’s removal from office and the subsequent purge of his allies from parliamentary leadership.

"It’s too soon for President Ruto to embark on this trip to the mountain. The big question is: What’s driving his decision? Is it truly service to the people, or is it politics?" he asked.

Nyutu also challenged Ruto to explain how his political alliance with ODM leader Raila Odinga differs from former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s 2018 handshake with Odinga.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Kenya Kwanza government is set to roll out extensive development projects and revive several stalled initiatives in Mount Kenya.

President Ruto is reportedly planning to commission multibillion-shilling projects and revive abandoned “white elephant” ventures that have contributed to mounting frustration and political unrest in the region.