Kikuyu Member of Parliament (MP) Kimani Ichung’wah was forced to cut short his speech during President William Ruto’s Mt Kenya region tour of Nyandarua County on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
Ichung’wah, who stood to speak on affordable housing projects in Ol Kalou town, was shouted down even as he protested with the crowd that he was not one to be intimidated.
“Relax, I am not the person to be heckled. President, I am one person who is not told what to do, and as we have said throughout this region, no one will be intimidated here,” Ichung’wah said as the boos got louder.
“I will not be intimidated by anyone here,” Ichung’wah said as he handed back the microphone to Ruto, who then called former Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi, who is the chairman of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) board, to speak.
Major headwinds
The tour, which has largely been peaceful and attended by thousands, ran into its first major headwind in Nyandarua, where two MPs lost their committee leadership positions after a purge which targeted members who were deemed sympathetic to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua
Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia, who previously chaired the National Assembly Committee on regional integration, was replaced by nominated MP Irene Mayaka.
Similarly, Nyandarua County Senator Methu Muhia, who previously chaired the Senate standing committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources, was removed in the purge.
Ruto is expected to continue his tour of the region, with analysts observing that the head of state is stamping his authority and dominance over the region’s politics.
Mt Kenya dalliance
On Tuesday, at the beginning of his trip to the region, Ruto said that he had developed a cordial relationship with the people of the region for decades, and nothing could come between him and the region.
Ruto’s tour is also expected to head to Murang’a County later today on Thursday, April 3, 2025, where the head of state will launch, commission and inspect various projects in the country.
Similarly, in Murang’a, the County Senator Joe Nyutu was ousted from the leadership position of the Education Committee, setting Ruto on a collision path with him.
Also, Ruto is likely to meet opposition after the National Assembly removed Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, who also hails from Murang’a and previously headed the powerful Budget and Appropriations Committee.