Ichung'wah: Walisema Ruto hatakanyaga Meru, hapa ni wapi?

Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah addressing a rally in Maua, Meru County

Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah has told off leaders who had cast aspersions on the viability of President William Ruto's visit to Mt Kenya following his fallout with former DP Rigathi Gachagua.

Ichung’wah, who is also the National Assembly Majority Leader, said the President is adored in the region owing to his development track record.

“They said the President would never return to Meru, where is the Head of State now. The President is in Maua, isn’t Maua in Meru county. Isn’t Meru county in Mt Kenya region? he posed.

Since his impeachment by the Senate in October 2024, Gachagua has been rallying several political leaders from the Mt Kenya region to oppose his former boss.

Gachagua downplayed Ruto's tour in his backyard and urged residents to be wary of his tactics of splashing large sums of money during the visit.

The ex-DP said that the President would spare no expense in a bid to appease the vote-rich region in an attempt to restore 'friendship', which he claimed had dwindled since his ouster from office.

Speaking on the second day of Ruto's visit in Mt Kenya, Ichung’wah said the President will be making more visits to the region.

“There are people who have become very arrogant. They have been saying the President will never step in Maua and then they go ahead to say they will decide how the region will vote. People will look at the track record when they decide how to vote," he said.

“The President will come to the Mountain, stay around and nobody will intimidate him.”

Ruto’s five-day tour of Mt Kenya entered day two on Wednesday with visits to Meru and Kirinyaga counties.

His itinerary included Maua, Kiburi, Nkuene, Ahiti Ndomba, and Kagio Town, where he addressed residents and launched projects.

Despite earlier concerns over hostility following his fallout with Gachagua, Ruto received a warm welcome on Tuesday in Laikipia where he started off his tour.

On March 20, the President met leaders from the Mt Kenya region and held talks on “revamping the agricultural sector in coffee, tea and dairy farming, infrastructure development, affordable housing and fresh produce markets”.