Linturi accuses Ruto of using CS Ruku to divide Mt Kenya into East and West
By Sharon Atieno, July 18, 2026Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi has accused President William Ruto of using Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku to divide the Mt Kenya region into political blocs.
Linturi said Ruku had been deployed to split the region into Mt Kenya East and West, warning residents against what he termed a divisive political strategy.
In a statement shared on his X account on Saturday, July 18, 2026, Linturi urged residents of Imenti not to fall into what he described as a trap targeting the unity of the Mt Kenya region.
The Mountain remains united
“Let me be clear: the Mountain remains firmly united. The GEMA community has stood as one since independence, a legacy bequeathed to us by our founding fathers,” Linturi said.
/X
He maintained that the unity of the GEMA community remained a source of strength that should not be undermined by political interests.
“This enduring unity is our greatest strength, and it will not be undermined by external forces,” he added.
Linturi also warned Ruku that he could eventually be abandoned by the president, drawing comparisons with his own political fallout with Ruto and that of former Attorney General Justin Muturi and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
“CS Ruku should take heed. He is being used as a tool by Ruto and will eventually be discarded, just as I, Justin Muturi and Rigathi were discarded before him,” he said.
Linturi declares Meru gubernatorial bid
Linturi also declared his intention to contest the Meru governorship in the 2027 General Election.
“I am fully prepared and ready to contest for the Governorship of Meru County. I assure the people of Meru that I will serve with dignity, integrity and unwavering commitment, working tirelessly to elevate our county among the leading counties in Kenya,” he said.
He concluded his message with the phrase “Ni Wantam,” a slogan associated with his political campaign.
DCP leaders accuse Ruku of dividing Mt Kenya
Linturi’s remarks came as leaders allied to the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) accused Ruku of advancing a political agenda aimed at splitting the Mt Kenya region.
Speaking in Kerugoya on Friday, July 17, 2026, Kerugoya Ward MCA Eric Muchina said the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election had demonstrated changing political dynamics in the region.
Muchina accused Ruku of championing the creation of a separate Mt Kenya East bloc comprising Meru, Tharaka Nithi and Embu counties.
“We reject attempts to divide the Mt Kenya region for political convenience. Our region has always stood together, and leaders should focus on uniting rather than creating unnecessary divisions,” Muchina said.
He further said Ruku should focus on his national government responsibilities instead of making political pronouncements on behalf of the region.
The DCP leaders said the victory of their candidate Sammy Kamau Waweru in the Ol Kalou by-election had boosted the party’s confidence ahead of the 2027 General Election and pointed to what they described as shifting political loyalties in Mt Kenya.