President William Ruto is facing renewed political scrutiny after lawyer Ndegwa Njiru weighed in on Prof Mutahi Ngunyi’s warning, linking the ruling party’s loss in the Ol Kalou by-election to shifting voter sentiment in the Mt Kenya region.
Njiru, reacting to Ngunyi’s analysis, argued that the by-election outcome reflects a deeper misunderstanding of the Kikuyu electorate, cautioning that the President may have misread the political motivations that propelled him to power in 2022.
“William Ruto, take some time to learn about the Kikuyu people and how they think. You seem to have misunderstood them completely,” Njiru stated.
His remarks come in the wake of Prof Mutahi Ngunyi’s assessment that the defeat of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate in Nyandarua signals waning influence in a region long considered a key pillar of Ruto’s support base.
Njiru pushed the argument further, suggesting that Ruto’s 2022 victory in Mt Kenya was less about personal popularity and more about political circumstance at the time.
“Many Kikuyus didn't vote for you in 2022 because they were your biggest fans. They voted for you because, at the time, they couldn't imagine voting for Raila,” he said.
The lawyer described the current political moment as the end of a “honeymoon phase,” warning that voter expectations in the region are evolving and could translate into more electoral setbacks if not addressed.
“Now? The political honeymoon is over. Next year will be another reminder that borrowed support isn't the same as genuine loyalty,” Njiru added.
The Ol Kalou by-election has increasingly been viewed by analysts as a political litmus test, with its outcome raising questions about the durability of alliances that defined the 2022 General Election.
Ngunyi had earlier framed the loss as an early indicator of possible realignment in Mt Kenya, pointing to growing dissatisfaction and a disconnect between national leadership and local priorities.
Njiru’s remarks reinforce that perspective, emphasizing that political loyalty in the region is often pragmatic rather than permanent.
“Turns out, confusing ‘the better option at the time’ with ‘we love you’ was quite the miscalculation,” he said.
The developments place fresh pressure on Ruto’s political strategy, particularly as attention begins to shift toward future electoral cycles.
With Mt Kenya remaining a decisive voting bloc, analysts say the evolving dynamics could significantly shape the country’s political trajectory if current trends persist.