MP Kaguchia: Mount Kenya will never support Ruto again over betrayal
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, July 20, 2026Mukurweini Member of Parliament John Kaguchia has declared that the Mount Kenya region will never support President William Ruto again, arguing that the relationship between the region and the Head of State was irreparably damaged by what he described as a betrayal of the trust voters had placed in him.
Speaking in an interview with a local TV station on Monday, July 20, 2026, Kaguchia dismissed suggestions that President Ruto could regain significant backing from the vote-rich region through negotiations with political leaders or alliances.
According to the legislator, the decision by Mount Kenya voters has already been made and cannot be reversed.
“Mount Kenya will never support William Ruto again. It doesn’t matter who William Ruto considers in Mount Kenya; Mount Kenya is gone once and for good. Mount Kenya will never support William Ruto again,” Kaguchia said.
“Let it be on record that nobody has the mandate to sit and negotiate with William Ruto under whatever circumstances to have Mount Kenya support William Ruto again,” he added.
Betrayal at the centre of fallout
Kaguchia has argued that the fallout between President Ruto and the region stems from what many residents perceive as a betrayal after overwhelmingly backing him in the 2022 general election.
The lawmaker has said that the issue goes beyond political appointments or future negotiations, insisting that trust, once lost, cannot easily be restored.
“For a very simple reason, betrayal. It all boils down to betrayal. He betrayed the trust he was given by the people of the Mount Kenya region, and that is gone and gone for good,” he said.
The Mukurweini lawmaker also rejected assertions that President Ruto could still secure a sizeable share of votes from the region in the next election.
He dismissed projections that the President could attract around 30 per cent support from Mount Kenya, insisting that such estimates were unrealistic.
“I have heard people arguing that William Ruto will get 30 per cent support from the Mount Kenya region for his re-election. Now it is clear he will not get even five per cent,” Kaguchia stated.
Kaguchia has further ruled out the possibility of political negotiations involving former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua or other influential Mount Kenya leaders aimed at restoring the region’s support for the president.
“Other people argue that he will negotiate with Rigathi Gachagua or with some people from Mount Kenya. It is not possible; forget about that,” he said.
Political debate ahead of 2027
Kaguchia’s remarks come as political activity intensifies across the country, with leaders positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general election.
The future voting pattern of the Mount Kenya region remains a key focus of national politics due to its large voting population and its significant role in determining presidential election outcomes.
His comments add to the growing debate over whether President Ruto can rebuild his political support in the region or whether the fallout with key Mount Kenya leaders has permanently altered the area’s political landscape, especially after a shocking defeat in the Ol Kalou by-elections.