Senator Joe Nyutu Voices Mount Kenya’s Political Concerns Amid Rift with Nyanza Region

By Robert Mutasi 

Murang'a County Senator Joe Nyutu has raised concerns about political trends in Kenya, especially addressing the suspected tension between the Mt Kenya and Nyanza regions.

Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV on Thursday September 5, 2024, Nyutu claimed that President William Ruto's recent reception in Nyanza was scripted to humiliate Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, signaling a political shift that Mt Kenya is closely following.

Nyutu emphasized that while Nyanza is giving a cold reception to the Deputy President, this is part of a wider strategy.

"Mt. Kenya region is investigating the political situation, and it is clear that President Ruto's reception in Nyanza was written to humiliate DP Gachagua," Nyutu said, pointing out that Nyanza's actions were calculated and part of the normal political game of Kenyan politics.

His statement is consistent with the feeling in some quarters that the relationship between the main political factions is getting worse.

Nyutu's remarks highlight the relationship between the Mt Kenya area and the current administration.

He agreed that Mount Kenya has been allocated seven Cabinet Secretaries (CSs), a move he described as important.

However, he noted that Mount Kenya voters should not be compared to regions that did not support President Ruto to a large extent during the last general election.

"You cannot compare a region that voted for someone in this government with a region that did not vote for this government at all," Nyutu argued.

This comparison seems to have focused on places like Nyanza, where former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has a lot of political influence and where Ruto got little support.

Nyutu pointed out that Nyanza, despite its limited support to the government, should still be grateful for the government positions it got.

 "Even one cabinet secretary that the Nyanza region gets, they should be very grateful because this is a big thing for them," he added, dismissing claims that Mount Kenya is ungrateful for his share of positions in government.

Nyutu's comments highlight a growing feeling in Mount Kenya that, despite their big contribution to Ruto's victory, they are being sidelined for regions like Nyanza, where support for the ruling coalition is weak.

His strong words also reflect the growing frustration in the region as they continue to move around in the national political arena.

With these remarks, Nyutu joins a growing number of leaders from Mount Kenya who are pushing for more political recognition and influence, signaling a possible upheaval in the near future.

His opinion will probably find the voters and leaders of Mount Kenya when they evaluate the ongoing political situation.

The tension between key constituencies remains an important factor in determining how power is distributed and how political trust is formed in Kenya's evolving political landscape.