President William Ruto on Tuesday hosted a high-profile meeting with Mt Kenya leaders at State House, Nairobi, in a move that has intensified political jitters in the camp of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The meeting, attended by elected officials and influential figures from the region, is seen as a strategic attempt by Ruto to tighten his grip on Mt Kenya ahead of the 2027 elections.
State House insiders disclosed that the gathering focused on development priorities such as infrastructure, agriculture, and youth empowerment in the region. However, the political undertone was unmistakable, with most of the My Kenyan leaders openly pledging loyalty to the President and affirming their support for his administration.
This development has rattled Gachagua’s allies, who fear that the President is deliberately weakening his influence in a region considered his political bastion. For months, tension has been simmering between Ruto and Gachagua, following their fallout over government appointments and regional representation.
Political analysts argue that by meeting Mt Kenya leaders directly, Ruto is sending a strong message that he no longer needs Gachagua to consolidate the vote-rich region. This is seen as part of a broader strategy to realign his political base as discontent grows within the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
The showdown between the two leaders has now placed Mt Kenya at the center of Kenya’s political chessboard. With both sides working to secure loyalty from the region, analysts predict that the next two years will be marked by heightened political realignments, as Mt Kenya leaders weigh their options ahead of 2027.
By Kenyans