Why the President's allies are desperate for a divided Mt Kenya

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at ACK St Mark Maragua Church, Maragua Constituency, Murang'a County on April 19, 2026.[File-Standard]

Calls for the political split of the Mt Kenya region hot on the heels of a resounding victory by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s DCP party in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election have yet again put the future of the vote-rich region under sharp focus.

Leaders allied to the Kenya Kwanza Administration and hailing from the region have been engaged in sustained efforts to divide the region along the East and West factions, further fueling debate on whether the region’s unity will hold ahead of the high-stakes 2027 general elections.

And while both Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and his predecessor Rigathi Gachagua have maintained the need for a unified front, pundits argue that a split would only dent the region’s political firepower and vote muscle that the region has long enjoyed over the years.

More leaders from across the political divide have also come out in condemnation of recent remarks by Public Affairs Cabinet Secretary Geoffery Ruku, who days ago claimed that the Mt Kenya East region was seeking autonomy from the larger Mt Kenya West bloc.

“The narrative that has been started by CS Ruku that the Mt Kenya region is something that is being pushed by selfish gain. We as the people of Tharaka-nithi county and Mt Kenya East have not sent the CS to push such an agenda and are not even interested in it. We are waiting for 2027 so we can elect leaders who advocate for nationhood, development and unity but not those intent on dividing Kenyans based on selfish interests,” said Tharaka Nithi County Assembly leader Justin Kithinji.

“It is very dangerous when a leader starts speaking like that ...we need unity in the Mt Kenya region and the country at large. Such debates on a split will really not help anyone,” he added.

Kithinji’s sentiments- and those espoused by other pundits- seemingly stem from the realization that a split of the region would politically disadvantage the Mt Kenya east region by diminishing its vote power and political leverage.

Data relayed by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) reveals that should Mt Kenya East choose to go it alone ahead of the 2027 elections, it would be no match for the populous Mt Kenya West.

According to the 2022 voter register, Mt Kenya East which has three counties namely Meru, Embu and Tharaka Nithi, would only be able to marshal a paltry 1.6 million votes compared to the larger Mt Kenya West region with the potential of raking in 4.5 million votes.

The data indicates that Meru had 900,484 registered voters, Embu 360,986 voters while Tharaka nithi had 261,876.  On the flipside, Kiambu county registered 2.4 Million voters, Muranga 673,321, Nyeri 532,421, Kirinyaga - 415,786, Nyandarua 383,241,  and Laikipia  291,567.

But despite the data, tensions continue to grow in Mt Kenya East with leaders sustaining calls for the region’s autonomy especially ahead of the 2027 general elections. They argue that the region has been sidelined since independence through unequal distribution of development, leadership opportunities and public resources.

Nopeu party leader Mpuru Aburi maintains the need for Mt Kenya East to establish its own political identity.

"The mountain has to be split. We want freedom like the one enjoyed by Luos and Luhyas. They (Mt Kenya west) have used us for years yet we end up getting nothing substantial," he said.

Aburi argued that Embu, Meru, Tharaka Nithi in collaboration with the neighbouring Isiolo county can marshall approximately three million votes, which he claimed was sufficient to negotiate directly with contenders.

Aburi also claimed that his region was disadvantaged when it came to State appointments.

“Mt Kenya West has five Cabinet Secretaries while we have one. They have 11 principal secretaries while we have one. In that case, which Mt Kenya are we talking about? He posed.

Former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi attributed the disputes emanating from the East to the inequity in distribution of resources across the region.

“Mt Kenya East would like to negotiate directly and not through Mt Kenya West...our biggest issue is discrimination. We feel we belong to the same house but certain corners of the house are treated better than others,”stated Murungi.

The leaders' sentiments have however driven a wedge between them and the region’s spokesperson DP Kithure Kindiki.

Speaking during a thanksgiving service for Embu Anglican diocese at St Mark's Teachers college in Kigari, Embu County, Professor Kindiki stated that he would not allow any attempts to politically divide the region.

“I don’t want our people to speak in different languages. We have done many things together, we have a long history and there is nothing that can divide us. As the Deputy President, I will ensure that the mountain remains united. At the moment I am the Deputy President and I will make sure our communities walk together,” said Kindiki.

His sentiments seemingly orchestrated what is seen as a closing of ranks between him and Rigathi Gachagua who in an unprecedented move endorsed his sentiments and even shielded him from political attacks.

Gachagua, while speaking at his Wamunyoro home on Sunday, dropped his earlier criticism of DP Kindiki and said he agreed with the DP’s sentiments on the unity of the MT kenya region.

“I have seen that Deputy President Kithure Kindiki yesterday gave a statement on the need for a united region and it made me happy...I think for whatever it was, Professor, there you were right,” said Gachagua.

“The only way Ruto can come back as president is when the Mt Kenya region vote is divided because this is one vote that is against him, 100 per cent,” Gachagua added.

Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi also accused President William Ruto of using Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku to divide the Mt Kenya region into political blocs.

Linturi said Ruku had been deployed to split the region into Mt Kenya East and West, warning residents against what he termed a divisive political strategy.

In a statement shared on his X account on Saturday, July 18, 2026, Linturi urged residents of Imenti not to fall into what he described as a trap targeting the unity of the Mt Kenya region.

“Let me be clear: the Mountain remains firmly united. The GEMA community has stood as one since independence, a legacy bequeathed to us by our founding fathers,” Linturi said.

Notably, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku ignited the calls for the split of the vote-rich Mt Kenya region last week, accusing successive governments of the Mt Kenya East region for decades.

Speaking at Kirindine Secondary School in Igembe South, Ruku said that despite Mt Kenya East having played a key role in the country's liberation struggle, it had been sidelined since independence through unequal distribution of development, leadership opportunities and public resources.

"About 77.75% of the roads have been built on Mt. Kenya West side, while only 22.3% have been built on Mt. Kenya East side. Are we lesser people? Don't we also deserve roads?"  posed Ruku.

Accompanied by Igembe South MP John Paul Mwirigi and Buuri MP Mugambi Rindikiri, the CS vowed to push for the division of Mt Kenya into eastern and western blocs, claiming that the move would help the region secure equitable development.

"President William Ruto has said that he has constructed the road from Maikutano to Mwea, then to Embu, through Runyenjes, Tharaka, up to Meru and Isiolo," he added.

"But now some people are chanting 'one term', saying the government is bad, calling out 'one term', and using slogans such as 'Kasongo' and 'Soprano'. We are telling them: stop the propaganda."

His sentiments have however driven a wedge between him and his ally DP Kithure Kindiki who publicly rejected CS Ruku’s bid to divide the region into two blocs.