Senator Nyutu dares Ruto to hold an impromptu rally in Mt Kenya region
By Aloys Michael, January 28, 2026A fresh political showdown is brewing in the Mt Kenya region after Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu openly challenged President William Ruto to hold an impromptu public rally in the heart of the region to prove claims that he has politically reclaimed the mountain.
Speaking during an interview on a local TV station on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, Nyutu dismissed recent charm offensive assertions by the State House that Ruto’s influence in the region remains unshaken, daring him to test his popularity without the trappings of a state-organised event.
“You know I’m on record for daring Ruto to come to places like Kenol or even Mukuyu town and hold an impromptu meeting. If he is sure that he has regained the mountain, then we see how many people are going to attend,” he stated.
The senator questioned the authenticity of crowds that have turned up during the president’s church visits and development tours, arguing that numbers alone do not reflect genuine political support.
“The President will never lack numbers because he pays for them,” Nyutu claimed.
Ruto-Gachagua chessboard
Nyutu’s challenge comes against the backdrop of President Ruto’s renewed push to consolidate support in Mt Kenya amid growing resistance led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
However, Ruto has dismissed attempts by Gachagua and his allies to undermine his political standing in the vote-rich region, insisting that his bond with Mt Kenya residents remains firm.
Speaking on January 12, 2026, during a Sunday service at ACK St Paul’s Church Kariki in Othaya, Nyeri County, Gachagua’s home turf, Ruto said efforts to weaken his support through what he termed petty politics, falsehood and noise were futile.
“The friendship that we have built has a foundation. Some think they can bring petty politics and noise to destroy the foundation that we built. That is not possible,” Ruto said.
The visit marked the President’s first tour of Nyeri County in months and was widely interpreted as a strategic political move, coming at a time when Gachagua has vowed to rally Mt Kenya voters to deny Ruto a second term in the 2027 General Election.
Ruto reminded congregants that the region overwhelmingly backed him in 2022 and maintained that the partnership forged during that campaign remains intact.
“That is not possible. Let them look for another job to do. We are going to walk together,” the President said, warning political actors seeking to drive a wedge between him and the region. However, critics like Nyutu see it as a calculated charm offensive aimed at countering Gachagua’s growing influence.
Gachagua, who was impeached after falling out with Ruto, has aligned himself with the United Opposition and is working closely with leaders including Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa and Fred Matiang’i to block Ruto’s re-election bid. He has repeatedly claimed that Mt Kenya has turned its back on the President.
Politically, Ruto’s return to Nyeri, Gachagua’s backyard, is laden with symbolism. While leaders such as Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga have publicly reaffirmed support for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leader, the region remains deeply divided.