Ruto to Mt Kenya: ‘Our Bond Is Unbreakable’

By Brian Kiprono - Reporter

Kenya, January 11, 2026 - President William Ruto has pushed back against claims that his relationship with the Mt Kenya region is weakening, insisting that no individual or group can drive a wedge between him and the people who overwhelmingly backed him in the 2022 General Election.

Speaking on Sunday during a church service at ACK St Paul’s Church Kariki in Othaya, Nyeri County, the President said there were deliberate efforts by unnamed individuals to sow division between his leadership and the region. “There are people who think they can create a rift between me and people of Mt Kenya,” Ruto said. “They cannot destroy what the region and I have built together. That is impossible.”

Ruto urged those attempting to separate him from the Mountain to “look elsewhere”, maintaining that he would continue walking side by side with the residents. He reminded the congregation that his presidency was built on the region’s support.

“I am the President of Kenya because of your votes. The government I am running today is because of your votes. You gave me the opportunity to serve you,” he said.

The President noted that the people of Mt Kenya had entrusted him with addressing practical issues that affect their daily lives, including education, agriculture, business growth, infrastructure and access to power. He added that his administration would ultimately be judged on delivery.

“I know the test is in 2027 and everybody will be assessed according to the work they have done,” Ruto stated. In remarks that drew applause from the congregation, the Head of State said voters in Nyeri and the wider region value performance over rhetoric or personal attacks.

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“Do people in Nyeri elect leaders based on their looks? You elect people on the work they have done and their plan. We will meet in 2027 with those who like insulting other leaders,” he said.

Although he did not name names, the President’s comments were widely seen as a veiled response to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, whose once-close alliance with Ruto has since deteriorated into open political rivalry.

Gachagua, previously Ruto’s chief political ally in Mt Kenya, has accused the President of marginalising the region in development and government appointments. He has repeatedly claimed that Ruto has lost the confidence of Mt Kenya voters and has portrayed himself as the true voice of the region.

The church service was attended by several national and county leaders, among them Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga and Nyeri Woman Representative Rahab Mukami.

Ruto’s appearance in Nyeri underscored his continued efforts to shore up support in the Mt Kenya region as political alignments begin to take shape ahead of the 2027 General Election.