According to reports by Taifa Leo, a planned meeting between President William Ruto and over 500 leaders from Meru County that was supposed to take place on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at State House Nairobi was suddenly called off after most of the invited leaders failed to show up. The boycott was not a random move but a clear protest by the leaders who are unhappy with the slow progress of development projects in their region.
Many of them felt it was no longer useful to keep attending meetings while the promises made by the national government remained unfulfilled.Instead of the large meeting, a smaller group of selected leaders quietly met the President privately on Tuesday, April 29. During this private session, they took the chance to present the frustrations being felt on the ground.
One Member of the County Assembly from Meru who spoke without revealing his identity explained that the larger meeting was postponed to allow the government time to start working on the delayed projects that have made locals lose patience.Senator Kathuri Murungi confirmed that several key issues were tabled during the closed-door meeting. One of the biggest concerns was the state of road infrastructure in Meru, where several roadworks have been left incomplete.
This has greatly affected transport and the economy in the area. Leaders also raised the issue of low income from traditional cash crops such as tea, coffee, miraa, milk, and avocados. Many farmers feel abandoned, and their earnings have dropped sharply over the past year. This has made it harder for families to survive as their main source of livelihood continues to shrink.
Governor Isaac Mutuma led the delegation that laid out these grievances to President Ruto, who is now facing growing resistance in Mt. Kenya East. This comes at a time when top political figures from the region like former Cabinet Secretaries Mithika Linturi and Justin Muturi have defected to the opposition. Their exit is seen as a sign that support for the President in this once-loyal region is weakening.
Another pressing issue raised was livestock theft, which has led to the deaths of at least 20 people in the last two years. The leaders linked this crisis to growing insecurity and a lack of strong government action. In addition, they complained about a cartel operating at JKIA that is allegedly behind the falling prices of miraa, making it even harder for farmers to earn a decent income.
In response to all these concerns, President Ruto promised to finish the stalled projects and also settle a KSh 329 million debt owed to a French investor who had invested in the region. He pleaded with Meru leaders to remain united and assured them that action would be taken. However, his plea for unity came just days after former Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi officially joined an opposition coalition that is now preparing to challenge Ruto’s leadership ahead of 2027.
The entire incident reflects growing dissatisfaction and a serious political warning that the President can no longer ignore.
