The Kenya International Convention Centre (KICC) board chairperson, Irungu Nyakera has announced that he will not be attending President William Ruto’s highly anticipated tour of the Mount Kenya region.

In a statement shared via his X account on Sunday, March 30, 2025, Nyakera, who is currently pursuing studies at Oxford University, explained that his absence is due to academic commitments.

He emphasized the need for the Mount Kenya region to focus on development during President Ruto’s visit rather than engaging in political discourse.

“I will not be present during the President’s upcoming visit to Mt Kenya as I am still in school at Oxford University. That said, I want to share my message with the people and leaders of Mt Kenya. In the last election, Mt Kenya voted for development, and development, as we all know, comes through the Office of the President,” Nyakera stated.

Adding;

“When he visits next week, let our focus be on that development – not on the politics.”

He noted that during the last election, the people of Mount Kenya voted for development and should now concentrate on realizing that goal through constructive engagement with the President.

Nyakera warned against allowing politics to derail the region’s progress, drawing parallels to historical instances where political disagreements hindered development.

He cited the visit of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta to Kisumu alongside Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, which resulted in hostility and decades-long developmental stagnation for the region. Nyakera also pointed out that during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s final term, the Mount Kenya region suffered because politics overshadowed cooperation, leading to missed opportunities for growth.

“History has taught us harsh lessons. When Mzee Jomo Kenyatta visited Kisumu with Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and was received with hostility, development in that region came to a halt for decades. Similarly, in President Uhuru’s final term, Mt Kenya suffered because we allowed politics to override cooperation and watched development bypass us,” Nyakera added.

According to Nyakera, history has offered harsh lessons, and Mount Kenya should not repeat the same mistakes. He urged the region’s leaders and residents to engage constructively during President Ruto’s visit and prioritize their developmental needs over politics.

“A time for politics will come—but it is not now, and it is certainly not next week. This is a time to engage constructively, to secure what we voted for, and to prioritize the needs of our people,” Nyakera stated.

Uncharted waters

​President William Ruto is scheduled to commence a five-day tour of the Mt. Kenya region on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

This marks his first visit to the area since the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in October 2024, an event that has influenced the region’s political dynamics. ​

During this tour, President Ruto aims to commission completed projects, inspect ongoing developments, and launch new initiatives across several counties, including Laikipia, Nyeri, Meru, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua, Murang’a, Embu, Tharaka-Nithi, and Kiambu.

Key projects on the agenda encompass road construction, affordable housing, fresh produce markets, electricity connectivity, and water and irrigation schemes. Notably, in Kiambu and Laikipia counties, the head of state plans to inspect the construction of County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPS).

The backdrop of this tour is marked by heightened political tensions following Gachagua’s impeachment, which has led to a discernible shift in the region’s politics. Gachagua, previously a key political figure in Mt Kenya, has mobilized support against President Ruto, leading to a decline in the President’s favorability within the region.