Ruto starts make-or-break tour of Gachagua backyard

President William Ruto’s tour of Mt Kenya region begins Tuesday, amid mixed feelings among residents and leaders.

During his five-day tour of the region, the first since last August, he is scheduled to inspect and launch several development projects in nine counties.

It is also the President’s first extensive visit to his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua’s backyard since he was impeached last year, just two years in office.

Gachagua’s impeachment last October turned him from a superfluous cheerleader of the President in the Mt Kenya region and countrywide into a vociferous critic.

It also escalated the region’s people disillusionment -- which started with the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests -- with the Kenya Kwanza administration which they overwhelmingly elected in the last General Election.

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President Ruto’s allies have, however, blamed the sharp fall in Ruto’s administration popularity in Mt Kenya to negative propaganda by Gachagua and his supporters.

They, therefore, expect the President’s five-day tour to undo the damage by “setting the record straight” on the government’s achievements in the region since Ruto took over from Uhuru Kenyatta on September 13, 2022.

“For the first time, the region will gauge Ruto’s administration based on facts that will be presented to the people, dispelling the propaganda that had been spread among our people,” says Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri, a supporter of the President.

To achieve this objective, the highlight of the President’s tour will the inspection, launch and commissioning of projects. While some projects have been completed, others are in various stages of completion. 

Ahead of the visit, Ruto last evening gave a joint media interview, mainly to radio stations that broadcast in Kikuyu, during which he outlined his agenda for the region and the entire country.

Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi, who succeeded Gachagua as MP for Mathira, has been rooting for Ruto’s government saying it is development-oriented.

Wamunyoro village

He says the Mt Kenya region should not be misled into abandoning the government and joining the opposition side. The MP has been on a meet-people-tour of his constituency.

“In four days, I have done 24 small but very effective meetings in all corners of our  constituency. I am happy we are finding a common ground, which is Kazi kwanza (work first). When time for the campaign comes, my competitors will need to prepare well enough,” he said two days ago.

Wamumbi said he visited many villages and interacted with the people, but singled out one area at the foot of Mt. Kenya, the now famous Wamunyoro village, which has become the nerve centre of Gachagua’s political operations since he fell out of favour with Ruto.

“A very good village with extremely good people, kind hearted men and women who are industrious and passionate about life and are very ready to receive President Ruto when he visits their village next week, Sagana state Lodge is located there,” he said.

He added: “I never want to hear anyone speak ill of that village. If anyone has a problem with an individual who comes from there, they should address that person by their name but not the good village of Wamunyoro.”

Wamumbi is one of the President’s allies in the Mt Kenya region who have been dispatched to the ground to mobilise residents to welcome him.

Last week Deputy President Kithure Kindiki was in Murang’a to inspect the construction of the Gikoe Modern Market in Mathioya constituency.

Murang’a Women Rep Betty Maina said the facility is part of the 400 markets being built across the country to provide a conducive business environment for small-scale entrepreneurs.

“Once completed, it will offer modern facilities that will boost local trade, create job opportunities, and improve the economic well-being of the people,” said Maina.

National Assembly Leader of Majority Kimani Ichung’wah, Nominated MP Sabina Chege and several other leaders were recently in Murang’a to inspect the Maragua Ridge Phase 1 Irrigation Scheme.

Chege said the project will transform the agriculture sector in the county.

“This project will serve hundreds of households once officially commissioned by the President. The project will boost horticulture and food production thus ensuring food security and economic empowerment of our people. As a member in the National Assembly Agriculture and Livestock committee, I will join my colleagues from the county and lobby for more resources in the remaining parts of our county,” she said.

Chege, who was part of the Raila Odinga campaign team in the 2022 General election, jumped ship after Ruto won the election. She is now concerned that the Mt Kenya region is moving to the opposition side, saying it will not be beneficial to the people.

“I am worried about the people of Mt. Kenya. Do you want to go to opposition and miss out on the benefits of being in the government side? It is unfortunate but that this is how it works. Once you support the government, something comes with it. Once you are out, priority is given to those who are in it,” she said.

Bags of money

Commenting on Ruto’s tour of the region, Gachagua, said he expects the President to splash out huge amounts of money in a bid to regain popularity among residents.

Speaking in Naivasha on Saturday, the former Deputy President said the President is determined to appease the vote-rich region in an attempt to restore public trust in his administration. 

“Don’t worry. Get ready, money is coming in bags. Take it, but don’t go home with it; it is cursed. Eat that money at the market. Do not mix it with the money you already have. If you have a loan with a shylock, use that money to pay it off,” he said.

During the tour, Ruto is expected to commission in nine counties of Laikipia, Nyeri, Meru, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua, Murang’a, Embu, Tharaka-Nithi and Kiambu.

The projects include roads, affordable housing, fresh produce markets, last mile electricity connectivity, water and irrigation.

He is also expected to issue title deeds in Kieni (Nyeri) and Tigania West (Meru) constituencies in addition to inspecting construction of the County Aggregation and Industrial Park in Laikipia West and Githunguri (Kiambu), and a Special Economic Zone in Maragua (Murang’a).

The President’s itinerary also includes visiting livestock feedlots in Tigania West and South Imenti (Meru). The projects are intended to boost the livestock value chain and the government’s support for farmers to produce quality meat, hides and skins especially for the European Union and Middle East markets.

In Nyandarua, the President is scheduled to tour the incomplete JM Memorial Hospital in Ol Kalou. His administration has promised to work with the county government to complete the facility, which will be the only Level 5 hospital in the county.

Mau Mau roads

He will also visit the Kenya Medical Training College in Kangema (Murang’a).

President Ruto’s itinerary includes the inspection of ongoing water, sanitation and sewerage projects in Igembe South (Meru), Maragua in Murang’a and Mbeere North (Embu).

The President will commission police housing projects in Chuka Igambang’ombe (Tharaka-Nithi) and student hostels at Tharaka University.

He will inspect or launch various affordable housing projects in Laikipia East, Ol Kalou and Kinangop (Nyandarua), Kandara and Maragua (Murang’a), Chuka Igambang’ombe (Tharaka-Nithi) and Nyeri Town.

In Mbeere South Constituency (Embu), the President will inspect the ongoing Kiambere Bulk Water Project.

He will also visit the section of Mau Mau Road under construction in Lari constituency (Kiambu). 

Mau Mau roads projects were recently allocated Sh5 billion and are being built along the Aberdare and Mt Kenya forests in Kiambu, Murang’a, Nyandarua and Nyeri counties.

The President also plans to visit modern fresh produce markets in various stages of completion in Kieni (Nyeri), Laikipia East, Igembe South and Tigania East (Meru), Kirinyaga Central, Kinangop (Nyandarua) and Chuka Igambang’ombe (Tharaka-Nithi).

Ruto is also expected to visit other markets in Tharaka (Tharaka-Nithi), Runyenjes and Manyatta (Embu), Othaya (Nyeri) and Githunguri (Kiambu).

The President will launch various Last Mile Electricity Connectivity projects in Laikipia West, Kieni (Nyeri), South Imenti (Meru), Kirinyaga Central, Ol Kalou (Nyandarua) and Manyatta (Embu).