Ruto, allies sustain onslaught on opposition in Murang’a tour

President William Ruto and his allies on Friday sustained their offensive against the United Opposition, using what was officially framed as a development tour of Murang’a county to push back against the Rigathi Gachagua-led rebellion.

During the tour, which will continue to Saturday, President Ruto took on the opposition, saying insults won’t win support in the region, and that development will determine the 2027 polls.

The visit comes amid heightened political tensions in the vote-rich region that voted for Ruto almost to a man in the 2022 general election.

However, the impeachment of Gachagua led to the breakdown of that political relationship as the expanded Mt Kenya region revolted against the President and his government.

Following his impeachment, Gachagua has waged an anti-government campaign, pushing to evict the Kenya Kwanza administration in 2027 using his “Wantam” slogan.

His recent rallies have sought to consolidate a regional bloc opposed to the President ahead of the next election, raising the stakes in what is shaping up to be a high-stakes political duel for control of Mt Kenya’s voting power.

However, during the Murang’a tour, Ruto and his allies dismissed the opposition’s campaign as hollow, accusing critics of lacking a substantive development agenda.

The President said the opposition politics is reduced to insults and nicknames rather than policy alternatives.

“They have nothing to tell Kenyans except calling me names like ‘Kasongo’. Where is their plan for development?” Ruto posed during his address.

He also pushed back against claims that he is losing ground in Mt Kenya, insisting he remains firmly rooted in the region and does not require political intermediaries to connect with residents.

“I have been to Murang’a many times. I have attended churches, visited schools, and inspected projects on water, electricity and roads. Am I a visitor to be introduced, or someone already known here?” he posed.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the next election will be decided by the people and not “political brokers”.

“The decision will be based on the development track record and the vision of leaders to empower the people and transform their lives, not by how much one can insult, demean or chest thump,” DP Kindiki said.

Gachagua and his allies, including area Senator Joe Nyutu, argue that the region is disillusioned with the Kenya Kwanza administration, citing economic hardships and what they describe as unmet campaign promises.

They argue the ground has shifted significantly since 2022, and that the President can no longer take the region’s support for granted.

They said the emerging political wave is rooted in frustration among ordinary citizens, rather than elite-driven mobilisation. Ruto, however, said the 2027 race will be one between performance and rhetoric, urging voters to judge his administration based on its development record.

He pointed to ongoing and completed projects in infrastructure, healthcare and education, saying his government remains focused on service delivery despite political noise.

“We are not here for insults. We are here to work for Kenyans. Leadership will be judged on what we deliver, not what we say,” he added.

His allies, including nominated Senator Veronica Maina (UDA) and nominated MP Sabina Chege (Jubilee), echoed the message, urging the President to remain confident of support from Murang’a and the wider Mt Kenya region.

They dismissed opposition claims of shifting political loyalties, insisting the region remains aligned with Ruto due to the government’s development agenda and key appointments. “Murang’a is your home. Do not fear. We will stand with you because we can see the work being done,” Senator Maina said.

 ICT and Digital Economy CS William Kabogo urged the residents to support the government, as it’s where the resources are.

Sports PS Elijah Mwangi also highlighted the presence of individuals from the region in senior government positions, including Cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries, board chairpersons, and senior public service roles, as evidence of continued political goodwill.

The Murang’a tour reflects the intensifying battle for Mt Kenya, a region that played a role in Ruto’s 2022 victory but is now restive.

During the tour, the President commissioned several projects, including the 18.5km Kiriko-Kagumoini-Gitugi-Chui-Karugia road in Mathioya, Mumbi stadium, Prisons’ affordable housing, an ICT Jitume Lab at Kiharu Technical and Vocational Training, as well as a 580-unit modern student hostel at the institution.

Others were Kayole modern market, Kiharu affordable housing, and Gatanga affordable housing.

He also said his administration is committing Sh2 billion towards the completion of the remaining sections of Mau Mau roads, a key political project in the region.

Ruto was accompanied by top leaders, among them DP Kindiki, Lands and Housing CS Alice Wahome, CS Kabogo, Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata, National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah and Woman Representative Betty Maina.

Mt Kenya voted overwhelmingly for Ruto in the 2022 polls, forming the bedrock of his electoral victory. However, the political landscape has since shifted dramatically.

The fallout triggered by Gachagua’s impeachment marked a turning point, fracturing what had been a formidable alliance that floored the behemoth that then President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga had built for the election.

In the aftermath, large sections of the expanded Mt Kenya region have shown signs of restiveness, with a section of leaders and voters expressing dissatisfaction with the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Following his impeachment, Gachagua has mounted an aggressive anti-government campaign, positioning himself as the region’s political defender and rallying point.

Even so, many members of Parliament and governors have stuck by Ruto, with the DP leading a campaign that the current ties is the sure way for the region to get back the presidency.

As the tour continues, it is expected to further sharpen political lines in the region, with both the government and the opposition intensifying their campaigns to win over voters.

With Mt Kenya’s political direction increasingly uncertain, the unfolding contest between Ruto and Gachagua could prove decisive in shaping Kenya’s political landscape ahead of 2027.

Pundits say the sustained tours and parallel opposition rallies signal an early, full-blown contest for the soul of Mt Kenya, with both camps keen to frame the narrative ahead of 2027.

It is evolving into a race where one side is anchored on development delivery by Ruto, and the other on political betrayal and economic grievances championed by Gachagua—setting the stage for a bruising and potentially decisive showdown in the region.