Maara Member of Parliament Kareke Mbiuki has laid down stern conditions for President William Ruto ahead of his highly anticipated Mount Kenya tour.
The MP has warned the Head of State to tread carefully, as they will not tolerate empty rhetoric on development.
Speaking at an event in his constituency, which was recently split to create the additional Muthambi Sub-County, on Thursday, March 20, 2025, Kareke made it clear that what they expect from such a tour is tangible, visible development projects for Ruto to commission—not hollow speeches about what he intends to do.
According to Kareke, the president would be better off delaying his visit, particularly to Tharaka Nithi County, until there are concrete deliverables to showcase.
“If he has planned to visit Mt. Kenya this week, we in Tharaka Nithi County are asking him to give us a little more time so that we can see some real action before he comes. Otherwise, he will only be bringing us empty promises in village barazas,” he stated firmly.
Kareke, who has served as an MP for over 15 years, went a step further, urging Ruto to send contractors to complete stalled projects in the area rather than personally touring the region without substantive progress.
He advised the Head of State that once there is visible, measurable progress from these projects, he will have a much smoother reception in the county, which also happens to be the home turf of his deputy, Kithure Kindiki.
“Let the contractors come and do their work first so that when the president arrives, he can see with his own eyes the progress they have made,” he asserted.
Ruto’s Mt Kenya Tour
The president is scheduled to embark on his first official tour of the Mt Kenya region since the dramatic impeachment of his former Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, who has long styled himself as the region’s political kingpin.
Preparations have been in high gear, and his deputy, Kithure Kindiki, who hails from the county, on Sunday, February 28, 2025, met grassroots leaders from the region to strategise on ensuring that the president is accorded a dignified welcome when the Muthomi Njuki-led county rolls out the red carpet for him.
During the gathering, which Kindiki insisted was primarily focused on assessing development projects, he also took the opportunity to set the stage for Ruto’s visit, imploring locals not to follow the example of communities that have recently heckled the Head of State.
According to Kindiki, if the county continues to show unwavering support for the President during this politically sensitive period, it will reap significant developmental rewards, as he [Kindiki] would personally champion their interests before Ruto.
“Show me by a show of hands those who are sending me to speak to the President. Before he arrives, we have work to do. Some claimed I dislike coming home—what will they say now? Because I will be here almost every other week,” he declared, reinforcing his commitment to remaining deeply engaged with his home region.
Ruto’s tour of the area comes hot on the heels of his Nairobi region tour, where he drew massive crowds and lavished residents with grand promises—both on what he has achieved and what he plans to deliver.
However, his Mt Kenya visit is clouded with uncertainty, as his recent trip to neighbouring Isiolo County ended in chaos, with locals booing him off the stage, forcing him to cut short his speech and make a swift exit.
Moreover, since Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment, the Mt Kenya region has been deeply divided, with a significant faction that previously backed Ruto solely due to Gachagua now shifting their allegiance elsewhere.
