President William Ruto’s week-long development tour of the Mt Kenya region, which concluded on Saturday, April 5, 2025, has left a trail of political controversy, raising questions about his influence and the region’s volatile political landscape.
The tour, encompassing Laikipia, Nyeri, Meru, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua, Murang’a, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, and Kiambu counties, was officially framed as a development initiative, but political analysts suggest it was a strategic move to regain favour following a rift with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The tour, occurring amidst heightened political tensions after Gachagua’s impeachment, was seen by many as an attempt to mend strained relations in a region that overwhelmingly supported Ruto in the 2022 election.
Despite a largely warm reception, several contentious incidents underscored the region’s complex political dynamics.
1. Police IG attends political rally
Inspector General (IG) of Police Douglas Kanja’s presence at a Ruto rally in Nyeri County on April 2, 2025, sparked criticism regarding the police force’s neutrality.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) called for an apology, emphasizing the need for law enforcement to remain apolitical.
However, Ruto defended Kanja.
“I was in Nyeri to hand over title deeds to people in Nyeri who deserve them. The IG came to the function, and people want to vilify the inspector general that he came to a meeting where we were serving the public,” Ruto said.
“Many of them have wanted to come and raise an issue with this meeting. He is here because I am on a development tour of Tharaka Nithi County, and in that process, we also have police housing units, and it is proper and right for me to hand them to the IG for the use of the officers,” he clarified.
2. Ichung’wah heckled in Nyandarua
Kikuyu Member of Parliament Kimani Ichung’wah faced a hostile reception in Nyandarua on April 3, 2025, when his attempt to speak on affordable housing projects was met with loud jeers from the crowd.
Ichung’wah, known for his staunch support of Ruto, refused to back down in the face of the disruption, but the heckling was seen as a direct reflection of growing discontent within the region.
His speech, which touched on government housing projects, was cut short as the crowd’s disapproval intensified.
“Relax, I am not the person to be heckled…no one will be intimidated here,” Ichung’wah stated before handing the microphone to Ruto.
3. Tharaka Nithi Woman Rep heckled
On April 4, 2025, Tharaka Nithi Woman Representative Susan Mwindu was subjected to a similar fate during the Chuka Town event, where she was invited to address the crowd after Ruto’s inspection of a Ksh290 million modern market.
As she began speaking, a chorus of boos interrupted her, and the crowd’s hostility forced her to end her speech early.
Ruto, visibly surprised by the reception, attempted to calm the crowd, urging them to show respect for Mwindu due to her position as a woman.
“Come on, she is a woman. Please do not heckle her too much,” he said.
4. Wamuchomba DCI Summon
Before Ruto’s visit to Kiambu County on April 5, 2025, Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba revealed that she had been summoned by the Kiambu County Criminal Investigation Officer (CCIO).
Wamuchomba, an outspoken critic of Ruto and an ally of the ousted Gachagua, linked the summons to her vocal opposition to government projects in the region, which she described as unfulfilled promises.
The move added fuel to the already heated political atmosphere, drawing accusations of intimidation from critics of the government.
“Arrests you can do, but that will not change the facts! No more lies! You promised, deliver!” Wamuchomba stated.
5. Ichung’wah jeered in Kiambu
For the second time during the tour, Ichung’wah faced a cold reception, this time in his home county of Kiambu.
As Ruto handed him the microphone at a rally in Lari on April 5, 2025, Ichung’wah was met with loud boos and jeers from the crowd.
Despite the disruptive response, Ichung’wah maintained his composure, briefly thanking Ruto for his ongoing development efforts in the county.
“Kazi ya kelele isikuwe uwoga hata kidogo kwa sababu ile kazi tulikupea ni ile ya maendeleo,” Ichung’wah stated, attempting to assert his resilience.
The hostility he faced suggested that his popularity may be waning, even in areas traditionally aligned with his political stance.
6. Ruto speaks on election defeat
During his visit to Othaya on April 5, 2025, Ruto made an unexpected admission regarding the 2027 elections.
The president stated that if the electorate decided to send him home, he would gracefully accept the defeat and return to farming.
His comments reflected an underlying acknowledgment of the volatility of his political position, with growing opposition challenging his administration.
Ruto also took the opportunity to remind voters that they would be the ultimate judges of his performance, pointing to his work in the education, agriculture, and infrastructure sectors as evidence of his administration’s achievements.
“Si kila mtu afanye kazi jameni si pale 2027 mtakuja kusahihisha mtihani ya kila mtu. Mwenye amefanya vizuri mnampitisha na mwenye ameanguka aende nyumbani. Sisi nyinyi ndio mtasort out?,” he posed.
“Hiko haja ya kusumbuana saizi? Hakuna haja- kila mtu afanye kazi yake.
“Mimi ile mlinipatia mkaniambia ninyoroshe elimu, kilimo nimenyorosha, barabara ndio hii najenga, stima ndio hii na soko ndio hio najenga. Mimi nitakuja kufanya mtihani yangu, nkipita mi naendelea, nisipopita mi naeda kulima, hakuna problem,” Ruto told Othaya residents.
The postmortem
While Ruto’s Mt Kenya tour was undoubtedly an attempt to solidify his control over the region, the controversies that arose during the week suggest a much more complicated political reality.
The warm receptions contrasted sharply with the growing divisions within local politics, raising questions about the sustainability of Ruto’s influence in the heartland of his support base.
As the 2027 election approaches, it remains to be seen whether these tensions will coalesce into a formidable challenge to his presidency or if his developmental promises will pave the way for continued political dominance in the region.
Martin Oduor
The alchemist of literary works – a master wordsmith with a proven record of transforming the raw materials of language into a rich tapestry of emotion, thought, and imagination.
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