CS Ruku hits out at Gachagua, says he does not speak for Mount Kenya
CS Geoffrey Ruku addresses youths during an engagement organised by the Mount Kenya East Youth Association. Photo by Brian Gitonga.
Public Service CS accuses opposition of painting a false picture of the Ruto administration’s record
By Brian Gitonga
Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Geoffrey Ruku has accused the opposition of painting a negative picture of President William Ruto’s administration, arguing that Kenya would be facing far greater challenges had the President not taken office.
Speaking during an engagement with youths under the Mount Kenya East Youth Association, Ruku said the country would have been in a worse economic position without Ruto’s leadership. He argued that the government has managed to shield the country from a heavier debt burden while securing a better future for young people, despite the challenges it inherited.
“If William Ruto was not the President, the government would be facing many problems today. I do not know what the future of young people would look like in the next 10 or 20 years because of the debt burden we would have had,” Ruku said.
The Cabinet Secretary said the government has financed roads, electricity connectivity and boreholes through the National Infrastructure Fund without seeking loans from the International Monetary Fund. He maintained that the projects reflect Ruto’s vision and demonstrate the administration’s commitment to development.
Ruku also appealed to young people not to listen to what he termed opposition propaganda, saying it was meant to divide communities. Referring to his recent remarks on ethnic identity, he said there was nothing wrong with stating that the Meru, Embu, Tharaka and Kikuyu are distinct communities.
He argued that Article 11 of the Constitution recognises and protects the cultures of Kenya’s different communities, and accused the opposition of misleading the public on the matter.
“Where is my crime in saying that the Kikuyu are not Meru? Is a Kikuyu a Kalenjin, or is a Kalenjin a Luo? These are all communities in our country, Kenya,” Ruku said.
He further criticised the opposition for claiming to speak on behalf of all Kenyans, singling out former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and saying his views did not represent all residents of Meru or the wider Mount Kenya region.
The Cabinet Secretary called on leaders allied to the government from both Mount Kenya West and Mount Kenya East to counter Gachagua’s political influence in their respective regions, saying government supporters should ensure the opposition narrative does not gain ground across the mountain counties.
“Those supporting the government in Mount Kenya West should ensure Rigathi Gachagua does not continue spreading his narrative. We in Mount Kenya East are equally ready to ensure he does not disrupt the government’s agenda in Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Isiolo and Mwea,” Ruku said.
He dismissed claims that votes from Mount Kenya East are insufficient to determine the outcome of a presidential election, saying the combined votes from Meru, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Isiolo and Mwea exceed two million, making the region a decisive voting bloc.
Citing the 2013, 2017 and 2022 presidential elections, Ruku noted that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga narrowly lost each contest despite receiving limited support from the Mount Kenya region. He argued that a united Mount Kenya East vote, combined with support from other regions, could determine the country’s next president.
Ruku expressed confidence that Ruto would win re-election in 2027 and urged residents not to be intimidated by opposition leaders, whom he accused of falsely claiming to speak for the entire Mount Kenya region.
“Subtract the votes of Isiolo, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu and Mwea from your calculations. Those votes, together with support from other Kenyans, are enough to form the next government,” Ruku said.
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