Experts deployed to boost Ruto Mt Kenya popularity

President William Ruto has revived a strategy first used by the second President, Daniel Moi, in 1995 to win back Mt Kenya region. At the time, a group of professionals was deployed to calm disquiet and restore the region to Moi’s political grip.

That year, former Permanent Secretary, David Kigochi co-opted a young Uhuru Kenyatta, who would later become Kenya’s third President, into a group dubbed the Gatundu Professionals. The team launched social programmes aimed at countering the anger of coffee farmers’ in the region.

Coffee farmers, angered by poor commodity prices, had threatened to punish their MPs and the government for failing to address their plight.

Coffee politics soon became the bedrock of Central Kenya political landscape, especially after the liberalization of the industry led to the collapse of giant coffee societies.

At the time, former President Mwai Kibaki and Kenneth Matiba had already entrenched themselves firmly in the region, forcing Moi’s administration to rely on professionals to revamp the government’s image.

In a similar fashion, President Ruto’s administration has now borrowed from that playbook, forming a caucus of Principal Secretaries, chairpersons, directors and chief executives of state corporations to drum up support for his government.

The caucus will also provide the public with a platform to air grievances, government representatives taking notes for follow up action. The initiative is also seen as an attempt to counter the influence of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who appears to have edged out President Ruto’s grip on the region.

A circular dated July 13, copied to all chairpersons, directors, and chief executive officers of state corporations, outlined the mandate of a new government-backed caucus: to showcase the “transformational progress in the socio-economic realm,” while offering high-level briefings to foster actionable outcomes and strengthen public-private collaboration.

The caucus, coordinated by Mary Muthoni, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, is dubbed Jamii Imara Mashinani.

It comprises members of the Executive from the Mt Kenya region and its diaspora, who have come together to champion a strategic community initiative under the same name.

The group held its first community engagement in Murang’a last weekend, where they urged residents to give the government time to deliver on its promises.

During the session at Kiru Boys High School, officials faced locals who openly listed grievances against the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Issues raised included the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), stalled road projects, the university education funding model, unfulfilled promises to raise milk prices to Sh55 per litre, and the lack of minimum guaranteed returns on coffee.

The PS defended the administration, saying the government was committed to addressing gaps in service delivery.

“Where we are getting it wrong, kindly inform us so we can make it right. The government has enhanced efficiency in health service delivery through a digital registry for Community Health Promoters (CHPs), ensuring transparency and accountability. In addition, the Lipa SHA Polepole initiative continues to ease the financial burden of healthcare while safeguarding access to affordable services,” she said.

Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization chair Thuo Mathenge added: “We shall complete road projects started by President Uhuru, review the university funding model, and ensure the government delivers on its promises.”

Policy analyst Dr Kamau Wairuri noted that Kenyans tend to vote along political lines rather than service delivery, citing Uhuru’s failed attempt to market Raila Odinga in Mt Kenya in 2022 despite major road projects. “Ruto’s sympathy card carried the day. Now Gachagua is using the same strategy, and it appears to be working,” he said.
But political commentator Pius

Kinuthia countered: “Kenyans are wiser. If the government delivers on its pledges, Mt Kenya will swing back to Ruto and expose Gachagua as merely a bitter politician.”