A section of Mt Kenya politicians allied to former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua say they are eagerly waiting for President William Ruto, whom they will put to task over key issues regarding the region. President William Ruto addresses a section of Mt Kenya leaders at State House, Nairobi, ahead of his visit to the region. The president is scheduled to return to the region on a working tour after months of being a no-show, this after his fallout with Gachagua, which culminated in the latter’s impeachment. On Thursday, March 20, the president hosted a section of elected leaders from Mt Kenya at State House, Nairobi, for preparations for his first-ever visit to the region months after Gachagua’s impeachment.
How Ruto will be received in Mt Kenya Murang’a senator Joe Nyutu, a stalwart of the former deputy president, said he would attend Ruto’s rallies and seek the chance to address him on certain matters. Nyutu, while speaking in a Citizen TV interview, said among the questions he has would be why the president seems to be on a warpath with Mt Kenya and targeting natives in purges undertaken in the Executive and the two houses of parliament. He said the president has nothing new to offer regarding development for the region. “Ruto is welcomed to Mt Kenya because it is in Kenya, and nobody can block him from visiting any part of the country. The only thing that we are saying is that he should not come to launch new projects, let him come and tell us about the ones he launched and relaunched in the past and tell us how far he has gone with them. We want him to come up with an answer to us on why he is targeting the region.
He has set on loose attack dogs to call us tribalists, yet we overwhelmingly voted for him, and he doesn’t come from the region,” Nyutu said. ” Being his first visit ever since Gachagua was ousted from office, Nyutu said the president will have to explain why he ditched his former deputy despite his sacrifices and commitments in the 2022 vote to help him win that year’s election. “Why can’t he be a faithful friend? Why is he kicking out those who supported him from the region? We want him to tell us he can keep friends and promises. We want him to tell us if he still has problems with us as a region…I will attend to his rallies in Murang’a, and I will ask him the questions and expect the answers and explain to the people,” Nyutu said. President William Ruto speaking in a past political rally in Kiambu.
On his part, Gatanga MP Edward Muriu cautioned the president against enticing the Mt Kenya people with development projects, yet the ones he launched in the past stalled. The lawmaker predicted a hostile reception for Ruto should he provoke the citizens with his rhetoric. What Gachagua allies don’t want Ruto to address For instance, he cautioned the president against discussing Gachagua, in any of his gatherings. He implied that the former deputy president’s impeachment is still paining the region, and revisiting it in any kind would be adding insult to injury. The MP also cautioned the president against outlining his partnership with ODM boss Raila Odinga, saying the region is still healing from a supposed betrayal he orchestrated. Muria warned Ruto that going to the region with his usual rhetoric and bravado would cause him humiliation, as the withdrawn public from Mt Kenya is ready to express their sentiment against him and his regime. “My advice, when you come do not mention any leader in particular Rigathi Gachagua.
The pain of betrayal is still very raw and deep. Do not mention your deal with Raila and how happy you are with it. Do not mention SHA, Affordable Housing, Hustler Fund. It will attract booing as they people of the Mountain take it as a lie,” the MP said via X.
by Kai Eli
