President Ruto/Courtesy
Former Mukurweini Member of Parliament Kabando wa Kabando has sharply criticised President William Ruto following his weekend engagement with grassroots leaders in Nyeri County, escalating political tensions in the Mount Kenya region.
In a lengthy statement posted on X, Kabando dismissed the President’s Nyeri meeting as politically hollow, arguing that it did not reflect genuine grassroots support.
He claimed that financial inducements and material giveaways could not address what he described as growing public disillusionment with the Kenya Kwanza administration in the region.
Kabando questioned President Ruto’s political standing in Nyeri, asserting that support witnessed during the 2022 General Election has significantly declined.
He alleged that many participants at recent UDA forums were not committed supporters of the ruling party, but individuals motivated by short-term benefits.
According to Kabando, such engagements mask deeper dissatisfaction among residents.
The former legislator shifted focus to social challenges in Nyeri, accusing the President of failing to respond to worsening insecurity and social distress.
He pointed to rising cases of youth suicides, increased crime, gang activity, and the spread of illicit drugs, which he said have severely affected families across the county.
Kabando claimed that Mukurweini constituency has recently recorded multiple youth deaths linked to mental health struggles and economic pressure.
Kabando faulted President Ruto for allegedly failing to acknowledge these challenges during his Nyeri visit.
He argued that the President’s engagements focused on political mobilisation rather than addressing the county’s pressing problems, particularly drug abuse and youth unemployment.
He further invoked the legacy of former President Mwai Kibaki, a son of Nyeri, accusing the current administration of undermining the leadership values associated with Kibaki’s tenure.
Kabando said Nyeri residents strongly identify with Kibaki’s record of economic management, institutional respect, and public service, and remain sensitive to any perceived deviation from those principles.
President Ruto’s Nyeri meeting formed part of UDA’s broader efforts to strengthen its grassroots structures in Mount Kenya amid shifting political dynamics ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The region remains a key political battleground following divisions that emerged after the 2022 polls.