After successfully kicking out Rigathi Gachagua as deputy president, President William Ruto’s Mt Kenya allies are planning a major comeback.
The President’s allies from the vast
Mt Kenya region are reportedly planning regional tours couched as development
meetings to salvage their fortunes following Gachagua’s ouster.
A wave of hostility is blowing across the Mt Kenya region with MPs and Senators who voted for Gachagua’s impeachment having it rough on social media.
Some MPs have been forced to keep off the ground, opting not to attend social events and even locking comment sections of their accounts to mute criticism and fend off anger.
Most MPs who participated in Gachagua’s ouster have been having difficult times on the ground with residents angry with their decision to eject the former DP from office.
With hostility growing across the Mt
Kenya region, the politicians who are allied to Ruto are now planning aggressive
regional tours to shore up their influence.
The Star understands plans for the
tours have been finalised with MPs expected to hit the ground once they proceed
in Christmas break next month.
The strategy includes holding back-to-back public events including attending high-profile funerals and church
functions across the region over the coming weeks.
The plan will also culminate with Deputy
President Kithure Kindiki’s homecoming later this year which President Ruto
will reportedly attend.
The venue of the homecoming has not been agreed on as leaders assess the public mood through curtain-raiser events.
Part of the MPs' messaging that is
being polished includes arguing that the appointment of Deputy President Kithure
Kindiki was meant to bring harmony to the government.
Buuri MP Kindiki Murwithania said with
Kindiki’s appointment, the government will focus on implementing its programmes
with hindrance because of teamwork.
“The elevation of Kithure Kindiki to
the second highest office in the land was for purposes of bringing harmony in
government so that it can concentrate on endearing itself to citizens through
rapid development,’’ he said.
The messaging will also focus on
explaining to residents how Gachagua impeded development in the Mount Kenya region
with President Ruto expected to commence the launch of projects.
Insiders say the projects that will
be launched will focus on high-impact programmes that will have maximum
political capital as MPs plan to counter resistance in their constituencies.
Mbeere MP Geoffrey Ruku said leaders
from the Mount Kenya region will continue to push for development projects from the
Kenya Kwanza government.
"We will not live in eternity in this
enmity that is founded in emotions. It is the development that unites us…..it is the development
that we voted for and that is what the president will bring to the table,’’
Ruku said.
The president’s allies are relying on
the development projects that President Ruto will be launching in the coming
weeks to salvage their political fortunes ahead of 2027.
Part of the strategy will be
multipronged and would involve avoiding hitting out on Gachagua during the
political rallies and instead focusing on development projects.
Muranga Senator Joe Nyotu, a close
ally of Gachagua confirmed that they are aware of multiple plans to help those who
voted against the former DP enhance their popularity.
Nyotu alleged that there was a plan to
arrest and charge Gachagua so that his critics could use that to come to his
defence as a way of endearing themselves to residents.
The senator claimed that part of the
plan would be instigating propaganda of the impending arrest to test the waters.
“I hear there is a comeback plan
being devised to be rolled out that entails sponsored propaganda that Gachagua
will be arrested and charged in court,’’
Nyotu said.
“Those in Mt Kenya who sanctioned his
impeachment will then come out to launch his defence, urging the President Ruto
regime not to persecute Gachagua further, and in the process appear to be
fighting for him.”
The MPs who voted for the Finance
Bill, 2024 employed this strategy when they came under heat from residents over
support for Ruto’s tax measures which Gachagua opposed.
The Bill triggered massive protests
led by Gen Z, forcing President Ruto to withdraw the Bill and rescind tax
measures.
