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Ruku Softens Stance on Mt. Kenya Separation Following Political Shifts

NAIROBI, Kenya — Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has softened his hardline rhetoric demanding a complete political separation between Mount Kenya East and Mount Kenya West.

Previously, the vocal Cabinet Secretary insisted that Mount Kenya East—comprising Meru, Embu, and Tharaka Nithi—must chart its own independent political trajectory.

Ruku had aggressively argued that the eastern bloc should no longer be politically tethered to Mount Kenya West, warning against dropping Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to appease western voters. He maintained that the region had been historically sidelined despite its unwavering support for past administrations.

However, Ruku’s aggressive push for a political “divorce” appears to have changed tone following intense political activities in the region, including high-profile engagements by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in Meru.

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Taking to social media and public platforms, Ruku clarified his stance, asserting that he is not attempting to divide the vote-rich region. Instead, he noted that many leaders and residents in Mount Kenya West recognize and support the distinct development and political demands of the East.

“I’ve not been sent by anybody to split the mountain, and I’m not splitting the mountain. I’m just speaking the realities of the mountain,” Ruku stated, emphasizing that addressing historical infrastructure disparities is about fair allocation, not isolation.

Political analysts view Ruku’s shift as a tactical retreat from earlier efforts to completely alienate Mount Kenya West.

By acknowledging shared understanding across both sides of the mountain, Ruku is attempting to reframe his message from regional fragmentation to strategic negotiation while keeping Mount Kenya East’s core grievances on the national table.