Ruto, Gachagua allies clash over Mt Kenya interests

Allies of President William Ruto and his former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have clashed over the implementation of government projects in the Mt Kenya region.

MPs James Gakuya (Embakasi North), Tabitha Karanja (Nakuru Senator), Joe Nyutu (Murang’a Senator), and John Wanjiku (Kiambaa MP) expressed differing views on how Mt Kenya's issues are being addressed.

Gakuya, a key ally of Gachagua, stated that while they will welcome President Ruto to Mt Kenya during his planned tour, he must explain how he intends to deliver on his promises.

Speaking during a show on Citizen TV on Thursday, Gakuya alleged that MPs from the Mt Kenya region feel 'embarrassed' discussing Ruto’s leadership, alleging that he betrayed them despite their sacrifices.

"We made huge sacrifices standing with Ruto, but removing Gachagua was the biggest betrayal—that’s what really angered me," Gakuya said.

He faulted the President for what he termed as abandoning the people who stood by him, questioning whether some of the promises being made are included in the budget.

"We must first ensure that these promises are accounted for in the budget," he added.

However, speaking on the same show, Wanjiku faulted Gachagua's allies, claiming they have prioritised personal interests over those of the Mt Kenya region.

"Their (Gachagua allies) biggest mistake is that they are fighting for an individual’s personal interests, not the interests of Mount Kenya," Wanjiku claimed.

He urged Mt Kenya leaders to unite and focus on securing development projects for their constituents.

"We fought for this government. Now let’s go to Parliament and push for the interests of Mt Kenya," he said.

Wanjiku also challenged Gachagua’s allies, reminding them that they initially preferred Kithure Kindiki over Gachagua when Ruto was selecting his running mate.

Senator Nyutu echoed concerns about Mt Kenya’s parliamentary representation, stating that leaders must unite and demand their fair share.

"It was disappointing to see our Mt Kenya MPs removed from key parliamentary committee leadership positions, which were then given to people from other regions," Nyutu said.

"If President Ruto values Mt Kenya, then he would have replaced those removed committee chairpersons with their colleagues from the Mt Kenya region.''

Meanwhile, Senator Karanja downplayed claims of marginalisation, asserting that projects in Mt Kenya are ongoing, including road construction.

"Everything we were promised has either been implemented or is in progress. MPs are responsible for budget-making—if certain projects were left out, they should raise the issue in Parliament," she said.

She also urged Gachagua’s allies to accept the evolving political landscape, emphasising that Ruto must make changes to align with his vision.

"When these changes happen, the President relies on intelligence about where his votes are—and naturally, those are the people he will reward," she concluded.