President Ruto, Deputy Kindiki Retreat After High-Stakes Mt Kenya Campaign Blitz
Nairobi, The Gulf Observer: President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki maintained a low profile on Sunday, following an intensive five-day campaign tour across the Mt Kenya region aimed at consolidating political support ahead of the 2027 General Election.
According to aides, the two leaders opted for a quiet day of rest and private prayers with select family members after concluding a series of high-energy whistle-stop rallies in Laikipia, Nyeri, Meru, Embu, and Kirinyaga counties.
Throughout the campaign, President Ruto made numerous pledges focused on revitalizing agriculture, boosting infrastructure, and fostering political unity—key concerns for the region that played a pivotal role in his 2022 electoral victory.
Ruto positioned himself as the defender of farmers, vowing to eliminate exploitative cartels in the coffee, milk, and tea sectors. “Our job now is development, not politics. When the time comes for politics, each of us will prepare for the race,” he stated during one of his addresses.
Key commitments included:
- Coffee Sector: A KSh6 billion debt waiver for coffee cooperatives, digitization of farmer payments, and construction of five new coffee milling plants.
- Dairy Industry: Price stabilization at KSh50 per litre and provision of modern milk coolers for 200 cooperatives.
- Miraa and Muguka: Establishment of a Miraa/Muguka Regulatory Authority, a KSh1 billion stimulus for value addition, and the revival of export markets in Somalia and Djibouti.
On infrastructure, the President announced a KSh5 billion allocation to complete the Mau Mau roads, with additional funding expected for other regional projects. Prominent roadworks include the Nyeri-Nanyuki dual carriageway (targeted for completion by 2026), Maua-Meru road tarmacking, and the Kerugoya-Kutus road upgrade.
Water initiatives included the launch of Phase II of Thiba Dam, projected to irrigate 10,000 acres, and the drilling of boreholes in arid zones.
In a push for job creation, Ruto unveiled 10,000 Kazi Mtaani slots for local youth and plans to establish three industrial parks in Nyeri, Meru, and Embu. Additional employment opportunities are expected from affordable housing projects across the region.
The energy sector also featured prominently, with the President inspecting the construction of a 33kv substation in Maua, set to power over 300 factories by June. He also announced a 10-megawatt solar plant in Mbeere and pledged to replace aging power lines. A dedicated transformer for Mwea’s 36 rice mills was among the localized energy promises.
More than 43,100 households in the region are set to benefit from the KSh4.5 billion Last Mile Connectivity programme, while coffee factories will be prioritized and floodlights installed in high-crime zones to improve safety and productivity.
President Ruto emphasized that the government’s efforts are rooted in socio-economic transformation at the grassroots level, and are designed to create lasting development rather than temporary political gains.
The retreat from the public eye comes amid speculation about the evolving political dynamics in the Mt Kenya region, a key battleground as the country slowly gears up for the next electoral cycle.
