Kingpin: Ruto, Gachagua battle for Mt Kenya region's attention

President William Ruto lays a foundation stone for the construction of Karatina affordable housing project in Nyeri County, on January 12, 2026. [PCS]

The battle for the Mt Kenya region vote basket continues even as President William Ruto insists on the need to go beyond politicking and focus on critical programmes of empowerment.

Mt Kenya, which is considered the country’s most reliable vote region because of its record of placing all its votes in one pool, holds over five million voters.

Since the return to multiparty elections, the region has been considered critical in propelling a win for presidential contenders.

The performance in the Mbeere North by-election held last November, where Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) won, may have also opened a can of worms.

Coming at a time when former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his opposition counterparts were firm that Ruto has lost grip of the region, it possibly signaled a new lease of life for the President’s supporters and renewed energy in seeking votes.

Over the weekend, the President returned to the region to not only affirm his support but also remind residents of the promises he made and that they will be fully implemented, the grounds on which he will seek re-election next year.

On Monday, youths from four counties of Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Nyandarua and Nyeri received their share of the Nyota capital disbursement, with the President saying that the programme was devolved to the ward level to reach out to as many of them as possible.

The President launched the programme in Nyeri just a day after attending Sunday service in the county where he  dismissed claims that his political relationship with the vote-rich bloc is threatened.

“I have come here, not because I don’t have a lot of work to do, but because this (Nyota) is very important. We must position the place of young people if we are to tap into their knowledge and expertise in driving the country,” Ruto said during the disbursement event.

The President, who also toured Othaya Constituency on Sunday, insisted that no amount of propaganda from his opponents would sever his long-standing ties with the people of Nyeri and the wider Mt Kenya region.

Similarly, he dismissed claims that his support in the region is waning off, terming such reports as politics of falsehood that will not destroy the relationship he enjoys with the people of Mt Kenya, even as he assured of fulfilling the promises he gave.

“I am ready to be judged on my work. Leadership is about service delivery not slogans, insults, or political theatrics. Some people are even asking what the President is doing with the young people,” Dr Ruto said.

The President said the problem that the country has faced for a long time is that everything is viewed in a political lens, which has watered down well intended projects.

“Everything done is viewed in political lenses, very petty politics and that is why people have been criticising the Nyota project saying that the amount being given is too little. They claim that I want to bribe the young people. But I ask you, were you asked your political affiliations or who you support before coming? This is a national programme about the youth of Kenya. It is not about politics.We must not politicize everything,” he said.

But Ruto continued with the charm offensive of the region and, at the Marua interchange in Nyeri, for instance, he inspected the ongoing construction of the 84km Kenol-Sagana-Marua road. 

“This key infrastructure development is part of the Trans-African Highway and will enhance traffic flow, boost road safety, facilitate trade between Nyeri and the entire region and foster regional integration,” Ruto said.

In Nyeri, he continued to grant goodies, noting that there are more than eight major roads being upgraded this financial year at a cost of Sh4 billion, in addition to building a dual carriageway from the Marua Interchange to Nyeri Town and extend it to Chaka trading centre in Kieni Constituency.

But as this happened, Gachagua accused the President of being behind a well orchestrated plan to intimidate the Mt Kenya people, including interfering with meetings he holds in the region.

The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader accused Ruto of scaring him so that he can retreat to his house. The former DP maintained a hard line stance saying he will not ‘buy into the fear’.

“Sacrifices must be made in life. If I do not unite my people, they will be extinct and irrelevant on the national political discourse. I will not buy fear as Ruto wants me to do, because he wants me to retreat into my house so he can continue dividing the mountain so that he can be reelected,” Gachagua said in a televised interview.

According to Gachagua, Ruto has been thriving on politics of ‘goonism’ in the region, with young people being mobilized, paid money and supervised by the police to intimidate him and his supporters in meetings he holds.

He regretted that things are getting out of hand and now goons and police officers are being sent to churches where he has been going to worship, a move he said is geared towards stopping him from speaking to the people and selling his DCP party.

“I want to tell them that they are already late. People are united and no one will divide us,” Gachagua said.

Gachagua also rubbished claims that he has been facilitating goons in an attempt to seek sympathy. He said he has neither capacity nor access to teargas and authority to send hundreds of police officers to churches and other meetings he attends.

“I have been telling the people to persevere despite the heightened intimidation because Ruto wants the Kikuyu community to fight each other. But now people have said enough is enough, they  will face all the goons sent to interfere with our meetings like it happened in Nyeri last week, where the goons were chased away,” Gachagua said.

He said people came out in large numbers in Gatundu on Sunday to protect the church from goons, who he claims were shielded by the police.

“When the goons were overpowered, the police came to shield them and it was then that tear gas canisters were lobbed in the church, yet there were many people, including women and children. It is sad it has come to this. People have now vowed to protect our meetings and smoke out intruders,” Gachagua said.

He urged public service vehicle owners to protect their property from destruction in public rallies, saying that the people will not allow further intimidation and will face goons head on.

Gachagua said his party will stop at nothing, insisting that they will continue to hold meetings in the Mt Kenya region and announced that he will be in the region for 60 straight days to not only sell his DCP party but also mobilise support for the opposition in readiness for next year’s General Election.

“People are tired and have said they will protect themselves. I will be in the Mt Kenya and will be announcing my meetings in advance so that people can know,” Gachagua said.