Naivasha MP Jane Kihara has claimed that some leaders from the Mount Kenya region supporting President William Ruto are doing so for personal financial gain ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking during an interview with Kameme TV on Thursday, May 21, 2026, Kihara has pointed out that several politicians backing Ruto’s administration are motivated by access to government tenders, business opportunities, and financial benefits rather than genuine support for the president’s leadership.

“Leaders, especially from the mountain, who say that Ruto is a good person and should be re-elected, are in that camp because of what they are eating and the businesses and tenders from the government,” Kihara said.

According to the outspoken lawmaker, leaders from the Mount Kenya region who publicly defend Ruto and push for his re-election are positioning themselves strategically to secure resources that will help finance their political campaigns in 2027.

She further argued that the politicians have chosen to remain loyal to the Kenya Kwanza administration because they are benefiting directly from state-linked opportunities and financial networks.

Kihara maintained that many of these leaders are focused on accumulating resources early enough to strengthen their political influence and improve their chances during the next general elections.

Battle for Mount Kenya votes

Her remarks come amid growing political realignments in the Mount Kenya region, where leaders have continued to split over their support for President Ruto and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

The legislator has launched an attack on the current administration, accusing some leaders from the region of abandoning the interests of ordinary residents for political survival and personal gain.

Kihara has pointed out a growing political contest in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region as Democracy for the Citizens (DCP) party leader Rigathi Gachagua and current Deputy President Kithure Kindiki intensify their efforts to influence and consolidate their support base ahead of the 2027 elections.

In recent weeks, the two leaders have appeared to shadow each other’s movements, each seeking to demonstrate control and loyalty in a region that played a pivotal role in delivering victory to President William Ruto during the 2022 polls.

The showdown indicates a simmering struggle for dominance over the Mt Kenya voting bloc, widely regarded as one of the country’s most decisive electoral constituencies.