President William Ruto has today made a direct appeal to the Kikuyu community, asking them to honor their promise and support him for a full ten years—the same way he stood by former President Uhuru Kenyatta for a decade.
Since his election in 2022, Ruto has faced an uphill battle for re-election in 2027. The Mt Kenya region, which overwhelmingly backed him last time, has now drifted away and thrown its weight behind the opposition.
For those unfamiliar, the Mt. Kenya region includes Kiambu, Murang’a, Nyeri, Nyandarua, Meru, Embu, Tharaka-Nithi, and Nakuru counties. Together, they contributed a staggering 47 percent of the votes that carried Ruto to the State House.
Back then, he defeated veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga, who had the backing of sitting President Uhuru Kenyatta.
But things have changed. Having lost the powerful Mt Kenya voting bloc—thanks to what many see as betrayal and political greed—Ruto is now clutching at straws. Without this region in his corner, his chances in the 2027 presidential race look dangerously slim.
As the clock ticks toward that high-stakes election, Ruto has been camping out in the Mt Kenya region, trying to win back the influential voting bloc.
On Wednesday, he met with Kirinyaga county leaders, including Governor Anne Waiguru, and made an emotional plea.
“We agreed to support Uhuru Kenyatta until he completed his ten years,” Ruto told them. “And you promised to support me for ten years, too.”
Ruto served as Uhuru’s deputy from 2013 to 2022. Still, after the 2017 election, the two fell out. Unlike his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua—who was impeached in 2024—Ruto managed to survive that fallout without losing his seat.
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