Laikipia MP Cate Waruguru has launched a blistering attack on the recently formed political alliance between President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga, accusing the two leaders of betraying the trust of the Mt Kenya region and disregarding the interests of the people who overwhelmingly voted for Ruto in the last general election.

Speaking in Kajiado on Sunday, March 9, 2025, the legislator expressed her deep disappointment with the new political arrangement, arguing that it was merely a pact of convenience designed to serve the interests of the political elite rather than addressing the concerns of ordinary citizens, particularly those in Central Kenya.

She maintained that the region had played a critical role in propelling Ruto to victory in 2022, yet it was now being sidelined in what she described as a calculated political move that ignored the sacrifices made by Mt Kenya voters.

“The so-called Ruto-Raila political marriage is not only illegitimate but also an outright betrayal of the people who stood firmly behind this administration, believing in the promises that were made to us,” Waruguru declared.

“Did you see that wedding? A wedding without a Kikuyu! That wedding is fake, illegitimate.. This entire arrangement has been orchestrated without the input of the Mt Kenya region, and the people are now waking up to the realization that they have been used and discarded for the sake of political survival.”

Kenya Kwanza regime

The former woman representative did not hold back in her criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration, accusing Ruto of abandoning the very people who put him in office and instead seeking refuge in an alliance with Raila Odinga as a means of consolidating his dwindling political influence.

She asserted that the president, having failed to deliver on the pledges he made to Mt Kenya, was now resorting to desperate measures to maintain his grip on power, even if it meant forging ties with the very person he vehemently opposed during the election campaign.

“William Ruto has clearly demonstrated that he is overwhelmed by the weight of running this country, and instead of addressing the challenges facing Kenyans, he has now chosen to seek solace in the company of Raila Odinga, whom he once accused of being the biggest obstacle to progress,” she said.

“This country has become too much for him to handle, so now he has gone looking for the old man of fish.”

Waruguru also took issue with what she described as the government’s blatant manipulation of the church, alleging that religious leaders were being co-opted into political schemes through financial incentives in exchange for their loyalty.

She said that the Kenya Kwanza administration had been using religious institutions as political tools, with certain pastors receiving hefty sums of money to propagate a pro-government agenda while ignoring the struggles of ordinary citizens.

“We have seen how pastors who align themselves with the government are rewarded with millions of shillings, while those who dare to question the administration’s actions are intimidated and silenced. Mchungaji Mwai wa Roysambu, for instance, was handed Ksh20 million simply because he was willing to preach a gospel that aligns with the government’s narrative. Where is the morality in that?”

She went on to allege that the money being distributed by the government, including the generous donations to churches, was tainted, claiming that it was blood money linked to the violent suppression of the recent Generation Z protests that saw several young people lose their lives while advocating for change.

“The money that is being dished out left, right, and center by this government is nothing but blood money, tainted by the suffering and sacrifices of our young people who dared to stand up for their rights,” Waruguru warned.

While clarifying that she had no personal grudge against Raila Odinga, the Laikipia MP insisted that his unexpected political dalliance with Ruto had left many of his loyal supporters in Mt Kenya feeling betrayed, as they had expected him to remain a strong opposition leader rather than joining forces with a government they had fiercely opposed.

She cautioned Raila’s followers against being blinded by political handouts and urged them to take whatever money they were offered but not allow themselves to be manipulated into supporting a political agenda that does not align with their aspirations.

“Raila Odinga, let me make one thing clear—we have no personal issue with you, but we are watching keenly as this political game unfolds. Tell your supporters who have been paid to take the money and eat it, but let them be aware that they should not sell their loyalty for a few coins. The real fight is much bigger than this short-term political convenience.”

Waruguru concluded her fiery speech by asserting that the real power in Kenya does not lie with the shifting alliances of politicians but with the ordinary citizens who are growing increasingly disillusioned with the status quo.

She warned that the Mt Kenya region, which has long been a key player in shaping Kenya’s political direction, would not be taken for granted, and that the people would soon make their voices heard in ways that would shake the foundations of the current political establishment.

“The real power in this country does not lie in political alliances but in the people who are growing increasingly frustrated. Mt Kenya will not be taken for granted—we will make our voices heard soon.”