His three-day working tour of Nyeri County is not merely a development inspection exercise.
It is a calculated political re-entry into a region whose loyalty has come under strain following his dramatic fallout with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and the emergence of new opposition alliances ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Nyeri, Gachagua’s home turf, carries both symbolic and strategic weight. By pitching camp there, Ruto is signalling that he is unwilling to surrender Mt Kenya’s vast voting bloc without a contest, even as his former allies work overtime to mobilise the region against him.
At the same time, several local leaders, including Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, have publicly reaffirmed their support for Ruto, underscoring the region’s emerging political split.
Against this backdrop, the president’s return has been packaged around tangible development promises aimed at reminding residents that his relationship with Mt Kenya predates, and transcends, individual political players.
Speaking during a church service at ACK St Paul’s Church in Kariki, Othaya, on Sunday, January 11, Ruto said the tour would focus on inspecting stalled and ongoing projects, engaging grassroots leaders and listening to wananchi’s concerns.
At the centre of the agenda are long-delayed infrastructure projects, particularly roads initiated during the Uhuru Kenyatta administration but stalled due to funding gaps.
Nyeri, Gachagua’s home turf, carries both symbolic and strategic weight. By pitching camp there, Ruto is signalling that he is unwilling to surrender Mt Kenya’s vast voting bloc without a contest, even as his former allies work overtime to mobilise the region against him.
Since Ruto last toured Nyeri in March 2025, Mt Kenya politics has undergone a sharp realignment. Gachagua, once the president’s most vocal defender, was impeached and has since joined the United Opposition, working alongside Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.
At the same time, several local leaders, including Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, have publicly reaffirmed their support for Ruto, underscoring the region’s emerging political split.
Against this backdrop, the president’s return has been packaged around tangible development promises aimed at reminding residents that his relationship with Mt Kenya predates, and transcends, individual political players.
Speaking during a church service at ACK St Paul’s Church in Kariki, Othaya, on Sunday, January 11, Ruto said the tour would focus on inspecting stalled and ongoing projects, engaging grassroots leaders and listening to wananchi’s concerns.
At the centre of the agenda are long-delayed infrastructure projects, particularly roads initiated during the Uhuru Kenyatta administration but stalled due to funding gaps.
Among them are the Mau Mau roads programme, which had stalled at less than a quarter completion in several areas.
Ruto assured residents that funding has now been secured and contractors are back on site, positioning the revival of the projects as evidence of his administration’s commitment to the region.
Housing and markets
Affordable housing is another major centrepiece of the visit. The president is inspecting projects worth over Ksh21 billion spread across Nyeri County, part of the national affordable housing agenda that has been both praised and criticised across the country.
In addition, more than 15 modern markets are under construction in the county, targeting small-scale traders and informal sector workers. The highlight of the tour is the official opening of the Karatina Modern Market, expected to inject new life into the regional trading hub.
Agriculture remains the political and economic heartbeat of Mt Kenya, and Ruto has leaned heavily into this reality. He has promised enhanced support for coffee and dairy farmers, citing recent international engagements aimed at opening new markets for Kenyan produce.
Youth and cash-backed programmes
Perhaps the most politically charged component of the tour is youth empowerment. Ruto is scheduled to launch the disbursement of more than Ksh500 million under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme.
The funds will benefit at least 10,000 young people across Nyeri, Murang’a, Nyandarua and Kirinyaga counties, with each beneficiary receiving approximately Ksh50,000 in seed capital for small businesses.
In a region where unemployment and underemployment among the youth remain key political triggers, the programme is designed to speak directly to a demographic that will be decisive in 2027.
Despite the heavy development messaging, the political undertones are unmistakable. Gachagua has openly vowed to rally Mt Kenya against Ruto, branding himself the region’s chief political defender and positioning the United Opposition as the vehicle to unseat the president.
Ruto, however, has dismissed claims that propaganda and insults will weaken his bond with the region, insisting that his friendship with Mt Kenya was forged long before the 2022 elections and is anchored on delivery rather than rhetoric.
“I know there will be an examination in 2027. Everyone will be judged by their work,” the president said.
Ruto assured residents that funding has now been secured and contractors are back on site, positioning the revival of the projects as evidence of his administration’s commitment to the region.
Housing and markets
Affordable housing is another major centrepiece of the visit. The president is inspecting projects worth over Ksh21 billion spread across Nyeri County, part of the national affordable housing agenda that has been both praised and criticised across the country.
In addition, more than 15 modern markets are under construction in the county, targeting small-scale traders and informal sector workers. The highlight of the tour is the official opening of the Karatina Modern Market, expected to inject new life into the regional trading hub.
Agriculture remains the political and economic heartbeat of Mt Kenya, and Ruto has leaned heavily into this reality. He has promised enhanced support for coffee and dairy farmers, citing recent international engagements aimed at opening new markets for Kenyan produce.
Youth and cash-backed programmes
Perhaps the most politically charged component of the tour is youth empowerment. Ruto is scheduled to launch the disbursement of more than Ksh500 million under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme.
The funds will benefit at least 10,000 young people across Nyeri, Murang’a, Nyandarua and Kirinyaga counties, with each beneficiary receiving approximately Ksh50,000 in seed capital for small businesses.
In a region where unemployment and underemployment among the youth remain key political triggers, the programme is designed to speak directly to a demographic that will be decisive in 2027.
Despite the heavy development messaging, the political undertones are unmistakable. Gachagua has openly vowed to rally Mt Kenya against Ruto, branding himself the region’s chief political defender and positioning the United Opposition as the vehicle to unseat the president.
Ruto, however, has dismissed claims that propaganda and insults will weaken his bond with the region, insisting that his friendship with Mt Kenya was forged long before the 2022 elections and is anchored on delivery rather than rhetoric.
“I know there will be an examination in 2027. Everyone will be judged by their work,” the president said.
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