Speaking to residents in Nyeri County on Monday, January 12, 2026, the President said he was not distracted by political rhetoric from critics, maintaining that his focus remains firmly on delivering the development agenda promised under the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Ruto appeared to respond directly to remarks by Gachagua, now the leader of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), who has repeatedly claimed that the President has lost political ground in Mt Kenya following their acrimonious fallout.
“We have people who think they can intimidate me with slogans like ‘Wantam’ and ‘Kasongo must go’,” Ruto said.
“I want to tell them that I am president today because you gave me that mandate.”
The Head of State told residents that his administration was elected on a clear development platform and that he remains committed to implementing it regardless of political noise.
“You gave me a clear path of what you wanted us to achieve — in healthcare, youth employment, the employment of teachers, and education,” he added.
Work, not politics
Ruto urged voters to judge leaders based on performance rather than political slogans or personal rivalries, saying Kenyans would ultimately decide who deserves their support at the ballot.
“You are the ones to decide what everyone has achieved,” he said. “I want to ask you to subject everyone to their work before you vote for them and decide.”
The President’s remarks come amid heightened political tensions between him and Gachagua, who served as his running mate in the 2022 General Election before being removed from office following impeachment proceedings.
Since his exit from government, Gachagua has positioned himself as a vocal critic of the President, accusing him of sidelining the Mt Kenya region and deliberately undermining leaders associated with the community.
However, Ruto rejected the narrative that his political fortunes in the region were tied to any single individual.
Long-standing ties with Mt Kenya
The President insisted that his bond with the people of Mt Kenya, particularly Nyeri County, was forged long before the 2022 election and could not be undone by political disputes.
“We have people who go around claiming they are the ones who made me popular here by carrying me on their backs,” Ruto said. “I want to ask the people of Nyeri — did one person really create this friendship?”
He recalled his time serving as deputy president under former President Uhuru Kenyatta, saying it was during that period that he built enduring relationships with residents across the region.
“Hii urafiki tulitengeneza pamoja na nyinyi wakati nilikuwa naibu wa Uhuru Kenyatta,” he said, adding that the relationship could not be shaken by what he termed as personal vendettas.
Silent support claims
The President’s comments echo earlier remarks by government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, who has maintained that Ruto enjoys broad but understated support in Mt Kenya despite the political noise.
In a post shared on X on November 29, 2025, Mwaura said many residents in the region quietly support the President and would express their loyalty at the ballot rather than through public demonstrations.
“Some leaders are in denial that President Ruto has many silent admirers and supporters across the Mt Kenya region,” Mwaura said. “They are scattered across villages, waiting to show up at the ballot at the right time.”
Mwaura credited the President with stabilising an economy that was struggling when he took office, arguing that development outcomes would ultimately shape voter choices.
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