President William Ruto has embarked on a three-day tour of the populous Mt Kenya region in a move seen as a strategy to assess the impact of his decision to form a broad-based government.
During the 2022 campaigns, President Ruto blamed the failures of the Jubilee government on President Uhuru Kenyatta's decision to work with opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Ruto claimed during the campaigns that the Uhuru-Raila partnership dubbed the Handshake was responsible for stalled projects and chaos in the then-ruling party.
After years of painting Raila as the enemy incarnate of Mount Kenya, President Ruto returned to the region for the first time since his cooperation with Raila's ODM party is facing an acid test.
The President’s visit also comes against a backdrop of widening cracks with his deputy Rigathi Gachagua who has been protesting persecution by state machineries and operatives.
The visit also comes at a time when there are claims of a plot to impeach Gachagua with the DP also alleging of an assassination plan against him and his allies.
The president will be using the trip to test the waters on Gachagua’s grip of the region, assess the level of support of his administration and evaluate his influence following recent political decisions.
Ruto landed in the vast region on Wednesday, starting his visit with a development tour of Embu County where he vouched for his Government of National Unity.
The president is expected to tour Murang’a and Kirinyaga counties during his extensive development visit even as he explains why he decided to work with opposition chief Raila Odinga.
Odinga has been Mt Kenya’s bogeyman with President Ruto managing to turn the tables on him during the 2022 polls despite enjoying the support of then-President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Two weeks ago, President Ruto picked Raila’s key allies including his two deputies –Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya-to join his Cabinet as he formed a broad-based government to stabilise the country.
Others from ODM are Ugunja Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum) and nominated MP John Mbadi (Treasury).
President Ruto had faced aggressive anti-government protests stirred by Generation Zoomers (Gen Z) and Millennials who demanded far-reaching reforms including the dissolution of the Cabinet.
Since forming the expanded government, President Ruto has been marketing it as the panacea to the country’s inherent divisions and tribalism, saying it will unite the country and reduce antagonism.
Speaking in Rukuriri, in Runyenjes, Embu County on Wednesday, Ruto said the new inclusive government will tame incitement and enable the country to be focused on development.
“Days ago, I formed the government of national unity so that we bring all Kenyans together, collect our taxes together and also pay our debts together," the president rallied the region.
The president is expected to use his three days in Mount Kenya to build the case for his broad-based government while asserting his influence in the region despite perceived differences with Gachagua.
Gachagua is crying foul over supposed humiliation from the president's aides citing some of them as determined to vanquish him politically.
On Sunday, Gachagua addressed the Mount Kenya region on vernacular stations, painting a picture of a targeted community by the Kenya Kwanza administration.
The DP claimed that the devious plan started with humiliating him and labelling him a tribal bigot yet he has been pushing the interests of his community.
“Prof Stephen Kiama University of Nairobi a man with a reputable character and having done many academic writings around the world is being targeted. When I ask I’m labelled tribal. 82 acres, belonging to the widow of former Minister Arthur Magugu have been stolen and everybody knows the land belonged to him. When I call the DCI, they accuse me of blackmail,” Gachagua claimed.
Gachagua has claimed, “11 officers were illegally fired from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) while an additional 13 officers from NIS faced the sack, my war against illicit brew has been frustrated and this is an affront to my community”.
He alleged on Sunday that a former National Intelligence Officer whom he hired was targeted by assassins, shot and injured on the shoulder before the bullet was removed in the Hospital.
The president is expected to use the tour to also explain the impact of the rejection of the Finance Bill, 2024 on development projects across the country.
The Bill had triggered a wave of protests across Kenya, forcing Ruto to reject it in totality, dissolve the Cabinet and reverse some of his policies as part of efforts to quell public protestations.
Some projects that roads that had been lined up for tarmacking in this financial year have been affected by radical budget cuts as the government sought to balance its books after the rejection of additional tax measures.
Gachagua's statements will also be closely watched as he is accompanying his boss during the three-day tour of his backyard.