"Let Ruto Test His Popularity With an Impromptu Mount Kenya Rally" Sen Nyutu Questions Ruto's Organic Crowd

Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has ignited fresh political debate in the Mt Kenya region after daring President William Ruto to hold an impromptu public rally to prove that he has politically “reclaimed the mountain.”

Speaking during a local television interview on Wednesday, January 28, Nyutu dismissed claims by State House allies that the President’s grip on the vote-rich region remains firm. He challenged Ruto to step out of organised state functions and meet residents in an unplanned setting to gauge genuine public support.

“I am on record daring Ruto to come to places like Kenol or even Mukuyu town and hold an impromptu meeting,” Nyutu said. “If he is sure that he has regained the mountain, then let us see how many people will attend.”

The senator questioned the authenticity of crowds witnessed during the President’s church visits and development tours, arguing that large turnouts at such events do not necessarily translate into real political backing.

“The President will never lack numbers because he pays for them,” Nyutu claimed, adding that organic support can only be measured outside state-organised gatherings.

Nyutu’s remarks come amid an intensifying political contest in Mt Kenya, where President Ruto has stepped up efforts to consolidate support following the fallout with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Gachagua, now aligned with the United Opposition, has vowed to mobilise the region against Ruto’s re-election bid in the 2027 General Election.

Despite the growing resistance, President Ruto has maintained that his relationship with Mt Kenya voters remains intact. Earlier this month, while addressing congregants during a church service in Othaya, Nyeri County, the President dismissed attempts to undermine his standing in the region, describing them as “petty politics and noise.”

“The friendship that we have built has a foundation. Some think they can bring petty politics to destroy it, but that is not possible,” Ruto said, reminding residents that Mt Kenya overwhelmingly backed him in the 2022 election.

Ruto’s recent visit to Nyeri—Gachagua’s political backyard—was widely seen as a strategic move aimed at countering his former deputy’s influence. While some regional leaders have publicly reaffirmed their support for the President, political observers note that Mt Kenya remains deeply divided.

As the 2027 contest begins to take shape, Nyutu’s challenge underscores the growing uncertainty over who truly commands the political loyalty of the mountain, setting the stage for an increasingly heated battle for the region’s support.