A fierce political showdown has erupted over control of the Mt Kenya East region, pitting President William Ruto against his estranged former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.
The two leaders are locked in a political struggle for dominance in the vote-rich counties of Meru, Tharaka Nithi and Embu, which collectively boast of over 1.33 million registered voters.
Meru leads with 772,139 voters, followed by Embu with 334,302 and Tharaka Nithi with 231,932.
The region’s electoral strength makes it a critical battleground that could influence the outcome of the next general election, heightening the stakes of the current political tussle.
The growing rift between the two leaders played out publicly last week when both camped in Meru, using the platform to criticise each other and rally support.
President Ruto, while attending the 10th Annual Dairy Farmers Field Day at the ASK showground in Meru, later addressed residents at Makutano and defended his administration’s development agenda and took a swipe at Gachagua.
“I have done nothing wrong in bringing development to Meru. I will not be distracted by propaganda,” Ruto said, dismissing Gachagua as a "propagandist" and asserting that his investments in the region are based on national interest, not politics.
Gachagua, who toured Meru over the weekend, issued a scathing rebuttal, declaring that the President had lost the support of Mt Kenya, including Meru.
“William Ruto, you have lost the mountain. Let me advise you for free: forget about this mountain. If you have any plan to be re-elected, in your formula and mathematics, remove the mountain because it is gone forever,” he said.
He went on to say that no amount of money could repair the political fallout, adding, “Even if you spend Sh100 billion, the mountain is gone and gone for good.”
Gachagua accused the President of abandoning the larger Mt Kenya vote bloc in pursuit of smaller political interests elsewhere.
“He has left four million votes to chase one million,” he said—an apparent reference to Ruto’s attempts to expand his support base beyond the central region.
In a bid to claw back influence in the region, President Ruto is leaning on Gachagua’s successor, Kithure Kindiki, a native of Tharaka Nithi, and Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku to entrench his grip on the area.
Kindiki has conducted a series of development tours and empowerment events, aimed at persuading residents to continue backing the President.
“Today I don’t want to talk much because the boss is here,” Kindiki said during Ruto’s visit to Meru.
“There are some people I see walking around with a bit of arrogance… My friend, today the President is standing here. I want to come and stand here by myself and deal with these men — take them on swiftly.”
He warned leaders who, in his words, “underestimate others”, saying, “They don’t know us, they don’t understand us. They’re testing us and thinking we’re small people.”
President Ruto’s efforts to hold the region are complicated by the defection of several key lieutenants from Mt Kenya East, who have since allied with Gachagua.
Among them are former Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi, from Meru and ex-Attorney General Justin Muturi, from Embu.
Their departure has emboldened Gachagua, who now sees Mt Kenya East as an extension of the broader Mt Kenya region, which he claims remains firmly under his control.
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