Murang'a County Woman Representative, Betty Maina has strongly defended President William Ruto against ongoing onslaught in the Mt. Kenya Region.
President Ruto, is facing growing disdain from electorate in the vast Mt. Kenya region, which poses a significant challenge to his ambitious plan of hiving off a significant chunk of the region's vote block and this is pretty clear to him.
The president joined other leaders in Embu on Saturday, November 16, to attend Bishop Peter Kimani's ordination to the Catholic Diocese of Embu. While underscoring the importance of the affordable housing programme and SHIF rollout, Ruto met the backlash of the citizenry one on one, which jeered at him in disapproval.
In reaction to the ongoing Backlash, Speaking to locals in Murang'a County, Betty has stated that President William Ruto is there to stay and will remain in power for two five-year terms unopposed.
The Woman rep, insisted in local dialect that regardless of the opposition and narratives being spread against the head of state, his re-election in 2027 will be a Walk in the park.
In reference to the agreement reached between former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ruto during their Jubilee leadership era, Betty reiterated Kikuyus must honour their end of the deal. In the said deal, Uhuru ruled for 10 years, with Ruto 'taking over' from him through the support of their respective communities.
The Murang'a Woman Representative, advised villagers not to be Swayed, persuaded nor recruited into rebelling against the Kenya Kwanza administration.
"President William Ruto must rule for ten years, whether those opposed to his administration like it or not. He will complete his current term and get re-elected come 2027 unopposed" She said.
" We (Kikuyus) do not back out off promises. We have a debt to offset and we will therefore support Ruto no matter what." Betty Added.
According to reports, Uhuru and Ruto have been in secret talks. It is believed the president wants to use his predecessor to re-endear himself to the Mt Kenya electorate in the face of the growing disdain fueled by the impeachment of Gachagua.
President Ruto's recent unpopularity in the region, stems from the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua as Deputy President, who hails from Mathira Constituency, Nyeri County, in the Mt Kenya region.
Most of the elected leaders, especially from Mt. Kenya, who voted supported the removal of Gachagua, are now facing backlash from their constituents, and their chances of re-election will be minimal due to the loss of trust.
Speaking during a Church Service on November 24, 2024, Gachagua weighed in on the Political future of the Mt. Kenya region. The Former DP, alleged that the region he defended during his tenure in government, is under threat from state influence.
"They are saying it does not matter whether the People from Mt. Kenya Region are Angry, they will pay them out, buy them with money come 2027" Gachagua Said.
The Former Dp, cautioned the state against undermining the region's influence, affirming that residents have shifted their allegiance.
"What was witnessed in Murang'a and Embu was just a tip of the iceberg." Gachagua emphasized, in reference to the Church event where the President was disrupted.
In Murang'a, Presidential Committee Chief Advisor Moses Kuria, was on Saturday forced to cut short his speech and flee after mourners heckled him and also refused to listen to the current Deputy President's Condolences message.
Gachagua, poked holes into President William Ruto's administration over the cancelation of the Adani deal, claiming it was quite concerning the government only cancelled the deals after Adani CEO was inducted for Graft in the United States, despite widespread exposure and Criticism of the Indian Firm's proposed deals in Kenya, shrouded in Mystery.
The Former Dp, called on the residents of the Region to remain united and await his return in January when he will announce his next move, openly criticizing President Ruto, accusing him of betraying his trust and that of the Mt. Kenya people.
Gachagua expressed disappointment, stating that the betrayal has revealed Ruto’s true character. He added that moving forward, they will reevaluate how they interact with the president to protect their interests.
Rigathi, was impeached by the Country's National Assembly and Senate after a Legislator, Mwengi Mutuse, filed impeachment Proceedings against him in Parliament.
The Motion, Filed by Kibwezi West Mp Mwenge Mutuse, had received the support of 291 MPs, who had appended their Signature's for it's presentation.
Gachagua's impeachment motion, was introduced on Tuesday 1st October 2024 at the National Assembly, citing 11 grounds for the DP's removal, including gross violation of the Constitution, misconduct, and violations of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, as well as the Leadership and Integrity Act.
With a Majority of Members of Parliament Supporting his ouster, Gachagua moved to the Senator, hoping to overturn his impeachment.
However, the Senators Concurred with MPs and a Majority voted in Support of his Ouster, prompting him to move to the Court's and hopefully overturn the Senate's vote, which didn't work out.
What the President thought a classic move by replacing his deputy, Gachagua with Kithure Kindiki who's also from Mt Kenya, does not seem to have helped cool resident's disdain for him in the region.