For weeks, Geoffrey Ruku kept an unusually low profile. The once-fiery Mbeere North MP, a regular voice on morning talk shows and political roundtables, had suddenly gone silent. Speculation was rife.

Was he plotting his next move? Was he lying low after political battles? Little did many know that fate was about to reward his years of resilience with a golden opportunity as a nominee for President William Ruto’s Cabinet.

Ruku’s political journey is a tale of grit, persistence and unyielding ambition. His prospective rise to the Cabinet is not just a victory but a testament to a man who refused to stay down, one who turned rejection into fuel, and failure into stepping stones.

The 6.5-foot-tall politician has fought his way up from the trenches of failure. His political dream began in 2002 when he vied for the Nthawa Ward Councilor seat only to be rejected at the ballot. But Ruku was no quitter. In 2013, he aimed higher, gunning for the Siakago parliamentary seat. Again, the electorate shut the door on him.

Undeterred, he aligned with the Federal Party of Kenya (FPK) but still fell short of clinching the Mbeere North parliamentary seat.

Then came 2017, a bruising year. He lost the Jubilee Party nomination for Embu Senator to Njeru Ndwiga. In a bold move, he switched gears, abandoning the senatorial race to make another attempt at the MP seat as an independent candidate.

Yet again, he was defeated by an incumbent, Muriuki Njagagua. For many, that would have been the end of the road. But not for Ruku.

Come 2022, the year his resilience finally bore fruit. Armed with lessons from past failures and a sharpened political strategy, Ruku ran on the Democratic Party (DP) ticket. Against all odds, he dethroned Njagagua, securing his long coveted parliamentary seat. His victory was symbolic as it marked the triumph of persistence over despair.

Unwavering loyalty

Ruku’s near-complete journey to the Cabinet is not just about winning elections. It was about building the right alliances. His loyalty to President Ruto dates back years, to the days when Ruto was the Minister of Agriculture under the Government of National Unity. As the United Republican Party (URP) chairman in Embu county, Ruku played a pivotal role in grassroots mobilisation, ensuring Ruto had a solid base in the region.

After his election in 2022, in Parliament, he became one of the Kenya Kwanza government’s fiercest defenders, absorbing criticism and championing Ruto’s policies with unmatched zeal. His vocal support did not go unnoticed, and when a Cabinet reshuffle loomed, his name was whispered in the corridors of power.

Finally, the call came last week: Ruku was nominated as Cabinet Secretary Public Service Human Capital Development and Special Programmes, replacing the ousted Justin Muturi.

Beyond politics, Ruku has left an indelible mark on education in his constituency. In just two and half years as MP, he has transformed schools that once had mud-walled classrooms into modern, tiled institutions. He championed a significant bursary increase, raising allocations from Sh5,000 to between Sh8,000 and Sh10,000.

His initiative reduced the financial burden on struggling parents, allowing them to pay only Sh1,300 per term for day school students. It’s an impact even his political rivals acknowledge.

Ruku’s nomination to the Cabinet has triggered political tremors in Mbeere North. With his parliamentary seat now vacant, the battle for succession is on. Heavyweights are scrambling to fill the void, with the by-election on the way.

Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji, a close ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, has hit the ground running. Yesterday his presence at EAPC B.A.T Church in Nthawa Ward signalled the beginning of Gachagua’s political machinery in the area, with former Deputy Speaker Steve Simba standing by his side.

Bare-knuckled brawl

Meanwhile, across the constituency in Muminji Ward, former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti made a grand entrance at Emmanuel ACK Gangara Church. The seasoned politician, who chairs the Devolution Empowerment Party (Bus Party), was flanked by key MCAs, including Newton Karish (Muminji), Lenny Mwaniki Masters (Kiambere), and Ngari Mbaka (Mavuria). Speculation is rife that Kivuti is grooming Karish to carry the Bus Party’s flag in the by-election a strategic move ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial race.

Ruku, now a Cabinet Secretary nominee, is not taking a backseat either. He visited Jesus Flock Sanctuary Church in Siakago before leading a bursary issuance event. His entourage included Embu business community chair Mungatana Mwaniki, former Mbeere North aspirant Stephen Ngari M’Makindu, and environmental expert Konji Kwayo. Pundits say Ruku will be a key figure in whoever will succeed him.

The by-election is expected to be a high-stakes political brawl. Justin Muturi’s DP Party is also expected to field a candidate, Ruku will back his own successor, and Gachagua’s camp is gearing up for a battle. With Lenny Kivuti also positioning himself through the Bus Party, Mbeere North is set for a fierce political contest.

During the bursary event, Ruku welcomed President Ruto’s upcoming tour of the Mt Kenya region and threw a challenge to critics: “If you think this government has done nothing, come to Mbeere North and see for yourself.”

From a struggling politician facing five consecutive defeats to a Cabinet Secretary, Geoffrey Ruku’s story is a powerful reminder that persistence and resilience always pay off.