President William Ruto starts the daunting task of regaining control of the vote-rich Mt Kenya region today, embarking on a five-day development tour complicated by his falling-out with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Ruto, who met governors, Cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries and MPs from the region to help mobilise support ahead of his tour, plans to launch several development projects to appease locals.

Ruto won most of the votes in Mt Kenya in the 2022 elections, enabling him to beat ODM leader Raila Odinga in the fight to occupy the House.

But Ruto’s support in the region appears to have dwindled, with locals complaining about unfulfilled campaign promises, problems facing the agriculture sector and the business community, higher taxes, the campaign against illicit alcohol, and his dispute with Gachagua.

Back into fold

Ruto, who has since joined hands with Raila and ODM to safeguard his rule and appointed opposition leaders to the government, has been strategising on how to bring the Mt Kenya region back into his fold.

Following Gachagua’s impeachment, Ruto named former Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe and allies of Uhuru to the Cabinet to help pacify the region that overwhelmingly voted for him in his first stab at the presidency.

Ruto and his lieutenants were planning to use his tour to consolidate his vote ahead of the 2027 election.

Ruto, insiders said, is keen on ensuring that Mt Kenya counties will be among 24 that he will secure the threshold of 25 percent of votes needed for a candidate to be declared President.

Sources with knowledge of the goings-on confirmed that Ruto insisted on proceeding with the tour despite being aware that he had lost the region to demonstrate that he is still President and that he can visit any part of Kenya whenever he wants.

Said the source: “The President has insisted that his tour will not be cancelled. He has made it clear that he has to visit the region because it is part of Kenya and to also prove that he has a say in the region.”

To ensure that his visit succeeds, the source explained, he sent his deputy Kithure Kindiki to join governors in efforts to mobilise locals and pacify the region.

Kindiki was tasked to engage governors and local leaders to identify key projects and ensure that the ground is aligned to deal with growing discontent and accusations of betrayal from Mt Kenya residents.

To this end, Kindiki, who for the past week pitched tent in the region, is also keen to use the tour to counter the influence of Gachagua, who has been traversing the region rubbishing the government’s agenda.

It is understood that Kindiki has planned to ride on the success of the tour to prove that he is the leader of the mountain and counter claims that he has little following.

Added the source: “The mobilisation meetings he has held with a number of leaders, as well as the overnight gatherings with local leaders that the DP is holding, are in order to ensure that the tour will be successful and that we will not have cases of booing.”

‘Uhuru projects’

Meanwhile, Gachagua yesterday asked Ruto to stop riding on projects initiated by his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta and launch his own.

The former DP has reiterated that Ruto has done nothing much for the region “except his usual lies”, cautioning the region not to listen to his rhetoric.

“Ruto has done nothing in our region. He has no project to show that he initiated. He’s only riding on what our elder President Uhuru Kenyatta did,” Gachagua said.

“Mt Kenya residents should know that they are dealing with a liar and they should expect nothing new from him.”

Gachagua also rubbished Ruto’s planned media interview last evening, terming it hogwash.

“I’m telling our people to expect nothing from Ruto. He will come to tell us things that don’t exist,” Gachagua said.

“We are telling him no matter how many times he visits our region, our relationship with him ended a long time ago. As a region, we [we were betrayed].”

Gachagua was speaking in Wangige in Kabete Constituency, Kiambu County, during an impromptu visit.

On his proposed new party, he said it will be launched in May, adding that it will be the only ‘legit’ political outfit in the region and that others are associated with Ruto’s UDA and are meant to divide the region.

“The biggest mistake we did as a region is to work with Ruto without having our own vehicle. Because of his lying nature, he took advantage of that and that’s why he’s doing with us whatever he wants,” Gachagua said.

“We are forming a party that will see everyone of us accommodated. UDA will be left like a shell.”

‘Engaging everyone’

Gachagua was certain Ruto would be kicked out in the 2027 elections and that the former DP has many friends who will ensure that happens.

At the event, Gachagua was with Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa and Kajiado North MP Onesmus Ngogoyo.

Political observers said Ruto is only touring the Mt Kenya region to prove that he has not isolated any area of Kenya and that he still has the support of the region.

Speaking by phone yesterday, political analyst Dr Martin Oloo said Ruto is also seeking to ensure that the mountain region will still give him the 25 percent support he needs to win an election.

He said: “The President wants to prove that he has no problem with anyone and that he is still with the people who voted for him. He wants to also prove that he is capable of engaging everyone.”

He added: “I know he wants to secure at least 25 percent support from the region, but this is a tall order. I don’t think he will achieve anything more than he has now. I don’t think he will get anything more than 20 percent.”

Oloo said that the tour is not about Kindiki because he did not bring any numbers to hi,m but is more about himself.