President William Ruto has taken the battle for the Mountain directly to his former deputy’s doorstep. In a fiery tour of Nyeri County—Rigathi Gachagua’s home turf—Ruto dismissed attempts to "dislodge" him from the region, declaring that his bond with the voters is unbreakable.

The visit was a masterclass in political optics. Ruto, flanked by a faction of MPs loyal to him (the "Kieleweke 2.0" group), addressed mammoth crowds, framing Gachagua’s recent dissent as "petty noise" and "village politics."

"I Am One of You"

"You gave me the government," Ruto reminded the crowd in Othaya. "Do not let anyone lie to you that we have forgotten where we came from." He listed a series of infrastructure projects—markets, roads, and dams—as proof of his commitment to the region’s development.

• The Strategy: Ruto is attempting to bypass the regional kingpins and speak directly to the "Hustler" base that elected him. By labeling Gachagua as a divisive figure, he aims to isolate him politically.
• The Gachagua Factor: The former DP, who has been mobilizing around coffee and tea reforms, was conspicuously absent. His allies argue that the President is panicking because the ground has shifted. "He can rent a crowd, but he cannot rent our hearts," a Gachagua ally tweeted.

A High-Stakes Gamble

For Ruto, losing Mt Kenya would be fatal for his 2027 prospects. The Nyeri tour was a stress test. The crowds were large, but the undertones of discontent over the cost of living remain. The battle for the soul of the Mountain is far from over.