Ruto in Mt Kenya: President dishes out Ksh10M to Naromoru primary school
President William Ruto began his day-one tour of Mt Kenya on a positive note, drawing huge crowds in Laikipia and Nyeri counties despite concerns that he might face hostility.
Ruto kicked off his Mt Kenya tour on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, launching development projects in Laikipia County in the morning. Later in the afternoon, he pitched camp in Nyeri, where he continued his engagements.
In Nyeri, Ruto visited Naromoru Primary School, where he was impressed by the work done by Anthony Wainaina Njoroge, alias Chieni, through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF).
“Wanafunzi wa Naromoru hamjambo? Sasa tumefika hapa na mjumbe wenu mheshimiwa Wainaina Chieni, si namna hiyo? Tumekuja kuwafungulia jengo nzuri ambayo imejengwa na pesa ya serikali ya CDF kupitia kwa mpango wa mbunge wenu bwana Chieni, sawasawa?” Ruto said while addressing pupils at Naromoru Primary School.
“Nimeambiwa ya kwamba shule yenu iko katika eneo ndogo sana na munataka haya madarasa yajengwe tena upya, si namna hiyo? Na mimi nataka nimshukuru bwana Wainaina kwa kupanga vile masomo hapa hasa madarasa yatakavyokuwa yakijengwa upya ili kuhakikisha kwamba wanafunzi wetu wengi wanapata nafasi ya kusoma katika mahali pazuri,” he added.
The president further told pupils that he was giving their area MP, Chieni, Ksh10 million to support the project at their school.
“Na kwa sababu naona hapa kuna msongamano na mjumbe wenu anafanya bidii, sasa wewe mheshimiwa Chieni, kwa sababu unafanya bidii hapa, mimi nitakuongezea shilingi milioni kumi ili usaidie ile kazi unafanya hapa ya madarasa kama ile nzuri, tuongeze madarasa mengine mazuri pande hii. Si munataka mahali pazuri pa kusoma? Na ile kazi ingine tutafanya ni kuhajiri walimu zaidi,” Ruto said.
Ruto’s Mt Kenya tour, scheduled from April 1 to April 5, 2025, has heightened political tensions and intensified speculation about his next moves in the region.
While the official narrative presents the tour as development-focused, political analysts argue that Ruto is making a strategic effort to regain favour in the vote-rich region following his acrimonious fallout with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The visit comes at a sensitive time, as the region remains politically charged after Gachagua’s impeachment—a move orchestrated by Ruto’s administration.
Many residents and leaders have expressed dissatisfaction with the government, and Ruto’s visit is widely seen as an attempt to mend relations and reassert his influence.
Mt Kenya overwhelmingly supported Ruto in the 2022 election, but recent political developments, particularly Gachagua’s removal, have led to growing disillusionment among voters.
Despite expectations that he would face hostility, Ruto was instead met with large, cheering crowds that welcomed him warmly.
Gachagua, in a fiery speech in Naivasha on Saturday, March 29, 2025, urged Mt Kenya residents to attend Ruto’s rallies but advised them to take any money offered by organizers without feeling obligated to support the president.
“If you are going to listen to him, ask for a hefty price. Do not accept less money. President Ruto, get your finances in order and bring the money because we elected you for free,” Gachagua said.
His remarks further stoked tensions, with analysts interpreting them as an open declaration of political war against Ruto.
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Martin Oduor
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