Ruto's crowds: Are the numbers lying or is the Mountain still with him?

President Ruto addresses Tharaka university students after he officially opened the institution's Tuition Complex in Tharaka Nithi County. [PCS]

President William Ruto is relishing addressing large crowds in the Mt Kenya region during his weeklong tour. But are the large masses a show of affection or a staged show to give him a false representation of the actual mood on the ground?

The President’s huge popularity in the region has taken a beating over the last two years because of the government’s poor performance ratings. The slump in clout is further compounded by his fallout with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, now considered a regional kingpin.