President William Ruto’s support in Mt Kenya region could take
a further beating with Public Service
Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi’s
party set to sever links with Kenya
Kwanza.
Details of the exit of the Democratic Party of Kenya from the Ruto
coalition emerged as the President
plans an extensive tour of Mt Kenya—a region he has avoided since
the dramatic ouster of his estranged
deputy Rigathi Gachagua.
The Star has established that DP
has issued a 30-day notice to exit
the Kenya Kwanza alliance, raising
uncertainty over Muturi’s future in
government.
On Wednesday, Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu confirmed her office had received the
letter, dated March 7, but officially
recorded it on March 12.
“Kindly take notice that our stay
in Kenya Kwanza is no longer tenable due to prevailing political developments,” reads the letter, signed by
DP secretary general Jacob Haji and
chairman Esau Kioni.
“The Democratic Party of Kenya,
through this letter, hereby gives a
30-day notice to exit the coalition,
as stipulated in termination clause 8
of the coalition agreement.”
The move could signify Muturi’s
own plan to exit government as
Ruto plans major changes to reflect
the newfound deal with ODM leader Raila Odinga.
The Star has established that the
President plans a week-long offensive of the agitated Mt Kenya
region, dubbed development tour,
next month.
Multiple sources confirmed the
President’s impending tour, setting
the stage for a titanic political showdown with Gachagua.
“Yes, the President will visit the
mountain for one week in April.
He will visit all the counties in the
region, and he will reside at the Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri,” Igembe
South MP Paul Mwirigi told the
Star.
The tour of Mt Kenya comes at a
time the head of state’s popularity
is at rock bottom following his fallout with Gachagua and the radical
purge of his troops in Parliament.
Ruto has already inked a political
deal with Raila – his fierce competitor in the last elections – supposedly to compensate for the ‘lost’ Mt Kenya region.
Raila controls key voting blocs
including Nyanza, Western, Nairobi, Coast and Northeastern – crucial
for Ruto’s reelection.
Embu Senator Alexander Mundigi said the President is scheduled
to launch several projects in the
region, including a road and water
project in his county, but the dates
were yet to be firmed up.
“He is supposed to come and
launch those projects because he is
the one who started them, but the
ground is not very good. So, we
don’t know if he will come,” he said.
Another lawmaker from the region who holds a senior position in
Parliament confirmed the planned
visit.
“The President will be residing
in Gachagua’s county. He will be at
State Lodge (Sagana). We are now
working on modalities and preparing the ground,” the lawmaker disclosed.
However, State House spokesperson Hussein Mohammed neither
responded to our calls nor a text
message seeking his comment on
the planned development tour of
the region.
Ruto will be visiting Mt Kenya
for the first time since November 17,
2024, when he was booed during
the consecration and installation of
Bishop Peter Ndung’u at the Anglican Church of Kenya Mukangu.
Kirinyaga Senator James Murango, a close ally of Gachagua, said
they have not been informed about
the visit of the President to the region.
Nominated MP Sabina Chege said they have not received official information either from State
House or the leadership of Parliament regarding the visit.
The President has been to all other parts of the country but Mt Kenya – which voted overwhelmingly
for him in the last polls.
Currently, the President is on a
week-long tour of Nairobi county.
This came just days after he visited the Coast, where he launched
several projects in an apparent bid
to woo the region.
Earlier, he toured the Northeastern, Western and Nyanza regions.
Ruto faces a backlash in the region
that “granted” him victory in the
2022 general elections.
Gachagua, who has become a political supremo in the area, has sustained attacks on Ruto and is currently forming a party and alliances
to unseat his former boss.
“He said he would come to Mt
Kenya next year. He had said the
people were so angry and wanted
them to cool down. Is the anger
coming down or worsening?” Gachagua posed in December.
“I want to advise you, don’t wait
for their anger to cool down. It is
rising. If you fear anger, you will
never come. So, come, and don’t delay because these people have tough
questions for you,” he added.
“And because you are my friend,
let me leak some few questions…
these people loved you. They trusted
you. If you come, tell them why you
decided to betray and hate them.”
In what could be a classic case of
adding salt to an injury, the President has purged key allies of Gachagua from parliamentary leadership
– a move that could worsen the anger among the residents.
In the Senate, Senators Karungu
Thang’wa (Kiambu), Joe Nyutu
(Murang’a), James Murango (Kirinyaga), John Methu (Nyandarua)
and Seki Kunar (Kajiado) were dewhipped from crucial house committees.
In the National Assembly, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, Gathoni
Wamuchomba (Githunguri), James
Gakuya (Embakasi North) and
Godfrey Wandeto (Tetu) were all
removed from leadership of committees.
This comes amid talk of a looming purge in the Cabinet in what
would see some CSs from the region
removed.
It is believed the President could
announce the changes as soon as
this week as he moves to accommodate Raila’s allies in his broad-based
government.
A similar purge is also expected in
the Principal Secretary jobs, where
the Public Service Commission has
already concluded interviews for
shortlisted candidates.
The President is expected to nominate PSs from a list forwarded to
him by PSC, a move that would see
more Gachagua allies shown the
door.
Gachagua has vowed that the region has completely severed political ties with Ruto.
“From today, the people of Mt
Kenya have politically disengaged
from President Ruto. We will not
support him in 2027,” he said
during an interview at his Wamunyoro home in Nyeri.
The former Mathira MP has already announced he will launch a
new political vehicle in May to challenge President Ruto.
Gachagua is crafting a mega-opposition coalition with several political figures, including Wiper boss
Kalonzo Musyoka, DAP Kenya Eugene Wamalwa and Martha Karua
of People’s Liberation Party.
Last month, the opposition leaders vowed to rally behind one candidate to take on President Ruto in
2027.
Kalonzo promised a big political
wave bringing all the opposition
teams in the next elections.
“It is going to be bigger than
2002, we are going to be an action-oriented unity movement. We
must unite and work together to
send Ruto home,” he said.
“In 1992, we were divided; in
1997, the same. In 2002, we learned
our lesson that without unity, we
cannot succeed,” Wamalwa stated.
