Mt Kenya’s significant voting bloc greatly influence presidential elections. A united Mt Kenya holds the power to sway national election results, presenting a major challenge for any sitting President and hence the need to manage the region politically.
President Uhuru understood this as a native of the region, Mwai Kibaki too. However, for the 5th President, William Ruto and Kenya’s 2nd Head of State Daniel Moi, this seems not to be the case.
When Mt Kenya’s demands for government resources and development are not met, the region uses it numerical strength to exert pressure on sitting presidents to deliver.
The current President’s greatest fear is that, a consolidation of power by Mt Kenya leaders could create a strong political opposition for him ahead of 2027. This fear is from the reality that a united and powerful Mt Kenya may disrupt their political dominance and present a formidable challenge to their authority.
A unified Mt Kenya can effectively push for favorable policies in parliament, such as better support for small-scale businesses, improved agricultural returns, and enhanced infrastructure investment. This influence can complicate the President’s ability to address regional needs and maintain political control.
Presidents always attempt to create internal divisions within the region to manage the potential threat posed by a unified Mt Kenya.
As former President Moi did, President Ruto aims to weaken any leader’s ability to consolidate the region’s power and challenge their political stability by promoting discord among Mt Kenya’s leaders.