Gachagua accuses Ruto of neglecting Rift Valley base amid low voter turnout
By Emmanuel Rono, May 2, 2026Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of neglecting his Rift Valley political base, linking the trend to growing voter apathy in the region.
Gachagua’s remarks come a day after President Ruto expressed concern over low voter turnout in the Rift Valley during the just-concluded Phase One of the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise.
Speaking during a public gathering on May 1, 2026, Gachagua said Ruto has shifted his focus toward other regions, specifically Mount Kenya and Nyanza, leading to a sense of abandonment in the Rift Valley.
“Nimeona William Ruto analia nyumbani pale Bomet; amekataliwa na Wakenya wote, sasa amerudi nyumbani akiwa na aibu. Watu wanamsikiza pale wanamwuliza unakuja tu hapa kanisa na matanga mbona unakuja hapa na machozi?” Gachagua said.
Loosely translate: “I have seen William Ruto crying at home in Bomet; he has been rejected by all Kenyans, and now he has returned home in shame. People are listening to him there and asking, ‘Why do you only come here to church and funerals? Why are you coming here in tears?” Gachagua said.
Ruto seeking votes from Rift Valley
According to the President, who spoke in Bomet during a burial ceremony of CS Davis Chirchir’s father at Kipketii, about 1.8 million eligible voters with IDs have not registered.
He also noted that nearly 500,000 youths who have attained the age of 18 are yet to acquire ID cards, effectively excluding them from the electoral process.
“We have 1.8 million Kalenjins here who have IDs but have not registered. Another 500,000 aged 18 have also not registered,” he said.
Ruto said it was a heavy political burden to seek support elsewhere while his own stronghold lags behind, urging residents to register in large numbers and secure his second-term bid in 2027.
“You’re giving me a tough job, struggling to seek support elsewhere while I have people back home. No, it shouldn’t be like this,” Ruto stated.
However, Gachagua and other critics argue that the declining voter enthusiasm is a reflection of what they term as the administration’s shifting focus away from its traditional stronghold in the Rift Valley to other regions, including Mount Kenya.
Critics from local leaders
Former Nandi Hills Member of Parliament (MP) Alfred Keter has come out to state that President William Ruto has been taking Rift Valley votes for granted.
In a statement shared on his social media handles on Friday, May 1, 2025, Keter, a sharp critic of President Ruto, reacted to the remarks, saying the president has now realised that “things are thick” and has resorted to his backyard for political support.
“William Ruto has always been taking the Kalenjin voters for granted, but he has now realised that things are tough! Wantam Is Wantam! Save Kenyans from the hiked fuel prices first,” Keter posted.