Ruto Allies, Gachagua Camp Clash Over Empowerment Forums in Nyeri

Nyeri, Kenya — September 25, 2025 (EAT).

A political tussle has erupted in Nyeri County between lawmakers aligned with President William Ruto and those supporting former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, centering on a series of empowerment forums organized in the region. The dispute raises questions about the efficacy, motives, and benefits of such events. 

The Latest

• The forums, promoted as platforms to engage constituents and distribute benefits, have sparked criticism. Some beneficiaries say the amounts given were as low as Sh600, casting doubt on the impact. 

• Nyeri MPs allied to Ruto, including Rahab Mukami (Woman Rep) and Senator Wahome Wamatinga, defended the initiatives, saying they are intended to take development projects to all constituencies — even those held by political rivals. 

• Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi said the forums are not political theater but genuine efforts to listen to public needs and relay them to government agencies. 

• In contrast, Mukurweini MP John Kaguchia dismissed the events as “cheap public stunts” designed to mislead locals, arguing that real development cannot come through token handouts. 

• Local women’s group leaders expressed frustration with the low payout, saying such sums do little to stimulate lasting economic improvement. 

• Meanwhile, DP Kithure Kindiki is slated to preside over a similar forum in Othaya on Friday, suggesting the Ruto camp is expanding the model across the county. 

Context

Empowerment forums have become a popular outreach strategy in many Kenyan counties. They often combine elements of town hall meetings, microgrant distributions, and government-citizen interaction platforms. In competitive political arenas, such forums may also carry symbolic weight: bridging constituents to ruling party benefits, reinforcing loyalty, or testing public sentiment.

In Nyeri — a region with shifting political allegiances and multiple active political camps — control over narratives and access to benefits is politically sensitive. The clash over these forums reflects deeper competition over influence, credit for development, and grassroots presence ahead of larger election cycles.

What This Suggests

• Political Mobilization: The empowerment forums are doubling as tools for political visibility, not just service delivery.

• Performance Scrutiny: Beneficiaries and critics are holding politicians to account over the substance, not just the optics, of “empowerment.”

• Credibility Risk: If repeated payouts remain negligible, the Ruto camp may lose legitimacy, especially among swing voters.

• Openness to Backfire: The Gachagua-aligned critics’ framing may resonate if discontent with follow-through grows.