President William Ruto’s Cabinet has been hit by a public disagreement after Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome and Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku expressed opposing views on Mt Kenya’s voting dynamics ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The disagreement became clear after Wahome rejected attempts to split the Mt Kenya region into eastern and western political blocs.
Speaking on Thursday, July 9, she said such politics goes against President Ruto’s efforts to unite the country and encourages unnecessary divisions within the region.
Wahome argued that the President has consistently promoted national unity by urging leaders to move away from ethnic politics.
She said Ruto’s decision to work with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga through the broad-based government showed his commitment to bringing Kenyans together regardless of their political or regional differences.
According to Wahome, leaders cannot claim to support national unity while at the same time encouraging divisions within their own communities.
She insisted that anyone seeking to lead the country should promote togetherness instead of creating political camps based on regional identities.
She said dividing Mt Kenya into eastern and western blocs weakens the government’s message of unity and does not reflect the direction President Ruto has taken since assuming office.
Wahome described such politics as misguided and said she firmly rejects any attempt to promote it.
Her remarks appeared to respond directly to comments made by Geoffrey Ruku during an interview with a local radio station on Wednesday, July 8. Ruku argued that Mt Kenya East has enough votes on its own to help secure President Ruto’s re-election in 2027 without relying on support from the Kikuyu community in Mt Kenya West.
According to Ruku, the region has about two million votes, which he believes are enough to play a decisive role in the next presidential election. He said the numbers give Mt Kenya East the confidence to back the President without depending on other voting blocs within the larger Mt Kenya region.Ruku also outlined what he described as the region’s long-term political plan after the 2027 elections.
He said leaders from Mt Kenya East would begin supporting Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s bid for the presidency after helping President Ruto secure a second term.
The differing remarks from the two Cabinet Secretaries have drawn attention because they reveal contrasting views within the government over political strategy in Mt Kenya.
With the 2027 General Election drawing closer, the debate is likely to fuel further political discussions about unity, regional influence and voting patterns within one of Kenya’s key political regions.
