By Anderson Ojwang
President William Ruto has moved to recreate a new perception and write his story in Mt Kenya in a bid to whittle down gains made by his impeached deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.
Six months ago, after the impeachment of Gachagua, Ruto, once a darling and Njamba of the Mountain, found himself a pariah and a stranger in his once political stronghold.
From defeating the then President Uhuru Kenyatta in the 2022 presidential elections by securing a majority of presidential votes against the former’s preferred candidate, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Ruto became the political mouthpiece and leader of the region.
But the fallout with his deputy turned the political mood in Murima from calm to restive and hostile to Ruto and his allies, who faced backlash from the residents.
Gachagua became the man of the moment, and all roads were leading to his Wamunyoro home with a delegation one after another thronging the village.
Gachagua moved to fence off the Mountain and has his eyes on cobbling a winning opposition team to win the 2027 presidential elections. He has held series of high profile meetings with opposition leaders, Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa and Jeremiah Kioni among others.
Local leaders including Governors, Senators, MPs and members have county assemblies from Mt Kenya have visited Wamunyoro village to consult with the new leader.
But the truth is fast dawning on the self-declared ‘Truthful Man’ after Ruto stormed the Mountain and brought the war to his doorstep.
On Sunday, Ruto released a bombshell on Gachagua that he demanded Sh 10 B from him to make the region accommodating, or he would make him a one-term president.
“Then he turned to me saying I can make you one term president. I need Sh10 billion to go and talk to and with the people of Mt Kenya and to plan for you politics.
I told him this can’t work. If that is what will make me one term. Let it be. I refused,”
Ruto told the press, in politics mobilizing is part of the politics and there was nothing wrong if his team mobilized people to turn out for his tour and indeed, they have turned out.
Ruto also claimed that Gachagua likes petty wars and wants to be worshipped by MPS kneeling before him and this largely contributed to his impeachment.
Gachagua was at war with blogger Dennis Itumbi and he reported him to me. He claimed that Itumbi had written something.
We sat together and cased the matter, and even before the dust could settle, there was another case. This time, it was between him and my personal assistant, Faruk Kibet. PA is a small man to fight with.
From Faruk, he accused Ndindi of calling a political meeting in Kiharu constituency and inviting several MPs to the function. After Ndindi, it was Ichungwa and finally, he brought the fight to my doorstep.
Before that, I told him, you are Deputy President, why are you engaging in fights with a blogger, Dennis Itumbi, PA and others? What is the problem? .
“These are small and petty things and lets work for the government as that is what we will be judged with,” he said.
Speaking at various venues, Ruto pacified the crowd by telling them that they formed the government and that he was not a madman to forget their contribution.
“ I want you people of Nyeri to listen to me carefully. You people of Nyeri voted for me. It is through your vote that we formed the government. I cannot forget about Nyeri. I want to tell you that the issue concerning Nyeri leave it to me
This government; it is your votes that elected it. You think I am a madman to forget who helped me to form the government?
I want you to listen to me. I am not drunk, I don’t drink alcohol. I am not a confused person. I know what I am doing. You get me, right?
I will ensure the work you gave me, I will deliver on it. I will ensure road works in Nyeri are done, and if it is not, ask me.
Nyeri governor, Mutahi Kihiga, Gachagua’s main ally when he spoke, said the President was welcomed to the region to initiate development projects.
I want to tell the President that he should not be told not to come to Nyeri. We want him to come again and bring us development. We must be inside this government.
To the people, we thank you for coming to welcome the President.. We missed you, Mr. President. We started fearing…. we were asking….., but now you have come with goodies. You have brought us development and we are happy.
I want to declare here in Narumoro, just as the president had said, we voted for this government. This is our government. Do we look as others eat and we sit on the offence? How many say, we continue to receive development?”.
Ruto, when he spoke in Mau, said he has developed a friendship with the people of Meru and Mt Kenya, and it cannot be broken by anyone.
“I have developed a friendship with the people of Murima for the last 20 years. I cannot allow any person to break that friendship.
I cannot allow any person to come in between us. The work we have done together speaks volumes. Our friendship is unshaken and I will ensure your needs and those of other Kenyans are catered for,” he said.
Gachagua has maintained studious silence after Ruto embarked on his tour of the Mountain and his ever-busy X handle has not posted any update for the last two days.
