Pro-Ruto leaders storm Mt Kenya days to his visit

Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung'wa with Murang'a Woman Representative Betty Maina at Kamahuha, Maragua, March 28, 2025. /ALICE WAITHERA

Political leaders allied to President William Ruto have embarked on a massive reconnaissance in Mt Kenya to prepare the ground ahead of his visit next week. 

On Friday, the leaders led by the Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung’wa pitched camp in Murang’a county.

Ichungw’ah arrived in the county late in the evening after spending the day at Igembe North constituency in Meru county where he joined MP Julius Taitumu to hand-over a new school bus to Kiongo Secondary School.

The Kikuyu MP then flew to Kamahuha where Woman Representative Betty Maina was presiding over Inua Mama Mashinani Initiative to empower women to engage in income generating activities.

The visit came just a day after Deputy President Kithure Kindiki visited Mathioya constituency in Murang’a county to inspect construction works of Gikoe market in the company of local leaders where he used the event to rally support for the President.

Kindiki also visited Igamba Ng'ombe Constituency in Tharaka Nithi county and Limuru in Kiambu.

The previous day on Wednesday, the second-in-command had toured Mbeere North Constituency in Embu county.

Nominated MP Sabina Chege with Murang'a Woman representative Betty Maina at Kamahuha in Maragua, March 28, 2025. /ALICE WAITHERA

On March 21, Eliud Owalo, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Performance and Delivery Management under the office of the President also toured several projects in the county that are expected to be on the President’s schedule.

Ichung’wah appealed to residents to shun destructive politics aimed at dividing them and support the government in its quest to improve their livelihoods.

“Those saying that we should leave the government are leading us astray. We have to support the government,” he said.

The MP said the Mt Kenya region played a big part in Ruto’s election and that it welcomes him wholeheartedly.

“Today, the President met MPs drawn from Meru county in preparation for his visit. We welcome him to the region because the Kenya Kwanza government is our government. It’s not our government just because a few individuals are in it; we know it’s our government,” he said.

While calling on Murang’a residents to come out in large numbers to show their support for the President during his visit, Ichungw’ah further urged them to dismiss propaganda that the region was being targeted.

“They claimed that Principal Secretaries from this region were being targeted but even those who were removed were replaced with others from the region.”

He revealed that the President will commission the Kenol Waste Water Treatment Plant and Sh312 million Maragua Bridge project.

“Next week, we will be here accompanying the President. Tunasema tunasonga na Kasongo. Mnajua Kasongo? Na El Chapo? Mnataka akuje mpaka na chapo?” Ichungw’ah asked amid cheers, after referencing the President by the nicknames he has previously  acknowledged Kenyans call him.

Maragua residents during Inua Mama Initiative meeting at Kamahuha, March 28, 2025. /ALICE WAITHERA

MP Maina also urged residents to come out and welcome the President during the visit, emphasising the need to work with the government.

Maina, a strong ally of the President, said it’d be unwise to fight for the election of the Kenya Kwanza government then alienate it when it’s in power.

She vowed to continue supporting the government saying she’d be better able to support women in close proximity to the government.

Nominated MP Sabina Chege on her part urged Murang'a residents to ensure they hold all elected leaders accountable and avoid being swayed by propaganda.

“Before you even get to President, ensure your MCA, MP, senator and governor are working for you. You did not vote for them to fight the government.

“I came today to give you a message that you can only milk a cow when it’s in the milking pen. You can’t ask us to leave the government when we are trying to streamline the issues facing our tea, coffee and milk”.

Chege jokingly told the residents to soften their hearts and that those who "previously had their blood pressure rise when Ruto’s name was mentioned" should now relax.

“I came to say that we are in the government and will continue lobbying for development projects for you,” she said.