President William Ruto has now turned to Principal Secretaries from the 11 Mt. Kenya counties, directing them to step up grassroots engagement in an effort to protect his political support ahead of the 2027 general elections.
This move, according to a report by KTN, marks a shift in the government’s strategy as it tries to hold onto the critical Mt. Kenya voting bloc amid growing political cracks in the region. The PSs have been given a new task—to act as the government’s messengers on the ground.
They are expected to speak directly to the people, highlighting what the Kenya Kwanza administration has achieved so far, and stressing the importance of giving Ruto a second term so that unfinished projects can be completed. This task goes beyond their usual administrative roles and clearly signals the start of early campaign work.
What makes this strategy more telling is that the government appears to be avoiding relying too heavily on the region’s elected MPs. This is happening at a time when divisions in Mt. Kenya politics have become more visible, especially after the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Gachagua, who had a significant influence in the region, fell out with the government in a public and messy way, leaving behind a leadership vacuum and further deepening mistrust among Mt. Kenya leaders. Ruto’s administration seems to have decided that the safest bet is to work through the PSs who answer directly to the executive rather than politicians who may be more interested in local power games or shifting loyalties.
By engaging directly with residents, the PSs will be trying to counter the growing narrative that the Mt. Kenya region is being neglected or sidelined by the Kenya Kwanza government.
The outreach is also meant to help the State manage public opinion, especially as more youth-led and grassroots movements begin to question the government’s direction and economic priorities.
This approach may help Ruto stay connected to the region’s base while avoiding internal sabotage by political leaders who have either distanced themselves from the President or are positioning themselves for future contests.
Whether this will succeed or not depends on how these PSs carry out their mandate and how the public responds to this shift in strategy. But what is clear is that the 2027 battle has already begun, and the government is taking no chances.
