Ruku’s fire! Legitimate question of betrayal

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

Francis Imbuga, in his play Betrayal in the City, wrote that “When the madness of an entire nation disturbs a solitary mind, it is not enough to say the man is mad”.

In the politics of Mt Kenya, Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku is that man. But is Mr Ruku being disturbed by a legitimate question, or is he just drunk with a craving for relevance?

For the last one month or so, the CS has been demanding the splitting of “Mlima”, the Mount Kenya political bloc. Mlima comprises all the Gema (Gikuyu, Embu and Meru)-dominated counties associated with Mt Kenya. Traditionally, the Gema have largely backed one presidential candidate or one political formation. They voted for the current administration and President William Ruto. It has been the unwritten rule that what is good for the Gikuyu is good for the Embu and Meru and vice versa.

But the Mountain has been emitting smoke, signifying volcanic activity before an eruption, ever since Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was impeached and replaced with Prof Kithure Kindiki. Immediately after his removal from office, Mr Rigathi went on the rampage and told the world that Mlima people had been kicked out of Dr Ruto’s government, an “injustice” he says can only be cured by removing Dr Ruto from office, hence his “Wantam (One term)” campaign. But did Dr Ruto kick out the Mlima people from his government? Only numbers can tell!

A look at the top echelon of Dr Ruto’s government tells a different story. In the Cabinet, the Gema community has the lion’s share of seven Cabinet slots, and nine if you include the Deputy President (from Tharaka Nithi) and Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau, who hails from Kirinyaga. The Cabinet Secretaries are Mr Ruku, Public Service (Embu); Alice Wahome, Lands (Murang’a); William Kabogo, Communications (Kiambu); Mutahi Kagwe, Agriculture (Nyeri); Rebecca Miano, Tourism (Nyandarua); Lee Kinyanjui, Trade (Nakuru); and Eric Muriithi, Water (Meru). In short, every Mt Kenya county is represented in Dr Ruto’s Cabinet.

Up there still, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah is a child of Mlima; and so are Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Chief of General Staff General Charles Kahariri, who coincidentally hail from the same Gaikuyu village in Mathira, Nyeri, the home sub-county of Mr Gachagua. A step down the government hierarchy, 16 out of the 31 Permanent Secretaries currently serving in the Ruto government are from Mlima.

So, why is Mr Ruku breathing fire and fury? Because one side of the mountain feels cheated. And not by Dr Ruto, but by the other side of the mountain represented by Mr Rigathi—Mt Kenya West. First, the Mountain people were not removed from the government; only the former DP left. Secondly, the position of DP was not given to a non-Mlima community; Dr Ruto replaced Mr Rigathi (Mt Kenya West) with Prof Kindiki (Mt Kenya East). Why then is it that the Mlima people were said to be in government when Mr Rigathi was second in command but are now supposed to feel out of government when Prof Kindiki occupies the same office? These are the questions giving Mr Ruku sleepless nights.

Identity concern

Since Independence, only leaders from Mt Kenya West have held the two top most positions in the land. And during all that time, leaders and residents of Mt Kenya East have embraced the Mt Kenya West leaders as their own. They felt that a government led by a Kikuyu was their government. How then is it that the Kikuyu feel alienated from the government, yet Prof Kindiki is second in command? Why don’t they support the professor the way his people support Kikuyu leaders, including the former DP when he occupied the same office Prof Kindiki now occupies?

Prof Kindiki hails from the same famous Tharaka Nithi whose votes swung the ballot in favour of President Kibaki during the highly contested 2007 presidential election. It can be said that Tharaka Nithi won Mr Kibaki’s re-election. Why don’t the Kikuyu return the favour by supporting Prof Kindiki?

The questions Mr Ruku is raising are legitimate and cannot be wished away as the rants of a mad man. And the Mountain must have a conversation with itself before it erupts.

Reporting originally appeared via Nation Africa. Read the full source for additional context.