President William Ruto’s recent Cabinet appointees from Mt Kenya could have squandered their chances of returning to elective office as the anti-government wave sweeps through the region.
CSs Mutahi Kagwe (Agriculture), Lee Kinyanjui (Trade) and William Kabogo (ICT) were sworn-in on January 17 2025, while former Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi took office as KRA chairman on December 30, 2024.
The appointment of the four veteran Mt Kenya politicians was expected to cool down the hostility against President Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza administration following the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua.
With seven CSs out of 20 from Central, the region has a 35 per cent share of the Cabinet.
While they face the uphill task of turning around the economy and assuaging the rebellious Mt Kenya to be behind Ruto, the appointment could further be poisoned chalice.
Their political careers and standing in the region are likely to diminish, especially if the economy doesn’t improve.
Notably, all the four veteran politicians were against Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid.
President Ruto’s influence and popularity in Mt Kenya have dwindled significantly, and politicians from the region aligning with the President have also lost favour with the electorate.
For instance, Kinyanjui was widely expected to recapture his Nakuru governor seat from Susan Kihika, who is increasingly facing opposition in the county.
Governor Kihika has been missing in action, apparently on maternity leave. In her absence, Senator Tabitha Karanja has sustained her onslaught on her, calling for her removal over her “absenteeism”.
However, political commentators argue that Kinyanjui could have spoiled his chances in 2027.
Gibson Wambugu notes that Kabogo and Kagwe were “spent cartridges” and “save for Kinyanjui the rest had zero chances on the ballot 2027”.
Wambugu, a political commentator who ran for office in 2022, said the Cabinet appointments are a good retirement opportunity.
In Laikipia, Wambugu argues that while Cate Waruguru has indicated interest in the governor seat, recycling in the county appears to be the practice, thus a higher chance for Muriithi. Governor Joshua Irungu is serving his last term.
Dennis Mwangi, a political affairs analyst and writer, opines that even if Kinyanjui was to back Ruto in a coalition, he would find it problematic because of the anti-Ruto wave, “which is in many parts of the country”.
In an attempt to avoid the anti-Jubilee wave in 2022, Kinyanjui attempted to run on his Ubuntu Party before finally vying on the former President’s party.
With Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga serving his second and lest term, it would have offered an opportunity for Kagwe to go for the seat, which he missed in 2017.
However, the affiliation with Ruto has further diminished the chances he might have for any elective position he would have sought, Mwangi says.
Gachagua’s impeachment and the prevailing economic and business situation has made the Ruto administration unpopular in the region.
So hostile is the ground that residents in Embu, Murang’a and Nyandarua have rejected President Ruto’s condolence messages.
Former Nyeri Town MP says Mt Kenya region has already made up its mind in 2027. “Imagine Mt Kenya doesn’t really care who votes for Ruto. They just won’t,” he said.
If the hostility the Kenya Kwanza administration faces in Mt Kenya sustains, candidates affiliated to Ruto will face and uphill task in their reelection bids, as was the case in the 2022 poll to those who sided with Uhuru.
Dr Charles Ng’ang’a, a don at JKUAT, argues that despite his impeachment, Gachagua remains politically active and has been rallying support within the region, portraying himself as the true Mt. Kenya leader.
“He has criticized his removal as a betrayal of the region’s political interests and has been meeting former MPs and MCAs at his Mathira residence. The goal is to consolidate his support base and push for a political resurgence ahead of 2027. He is expected to challenge the legitimacy of Kindiki’s leadership in the region,” he opines.
Capitalizing on the hostility, Gachagua has intensified his political activities in the region to consolidate the mountain by closing ranks with Ruto critics such as Martha Karua.
If the anti-Ruto wave sustains until 2027, the Ruto Quartet will be making a huge gamble, if at all they will be seeking political office.
