Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Geoffrey Ruku has defended his call for Mt Kenya East to pursue its own political direction, saying every region has the constitutional right to make independent political choices based on its unique development priorities.
Speaking during a church service at AIPCK Church Gituamba, Ruku said regions across the country face different socio-economic challenges and should therefore be free to pursue political agendas that best serve their residents.
He urged residents of Kiambu County to champion issues affecting their area, arguing that their priorities may differ from those of communities in Murang’a, Nyeri, Nyandarua and the eastern side of the Mt Kenya region.
According to the Cabinet Secretary, President William Ruto has demonstrated a commitment to serving all regions, including areas that have historically experienced marginalisation.
Ruku maintained that recognising regional identity should not be viewed as promoting division but as a means of ensuring equitable representation and balanced development across the country.
“I don’t hate Kikuyus, but we must be happy with our identity,” he said, adding that embracing one’s identity should not be interpreted as hostility toward other communities.
The CS said his earlier remarks on Mt Kenya East had been misunderstood by leaders pursuing personal political interests, insisting that his message was intended to encourage political independence and self-determination.
He further argued that leaders from Mt Kenya East had also contributed to Kenya’s struggle for independence alongside those from Mt Kenya West.
“We had generals who also fought for independence alongside generals from Mt Kenya West, and that is why we supported Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta. It cannot be that when a son from Mt Kenya East is working with President Ruto, leaders from Mt Kenya West tell us the government is bad and that we should abandon it. We will not,” Ruku said.
The Cabinet Secretary added that residents of both Mt Kenya East and Mt Kenya Central, including Kiambu County, should be free to determine their political future without external influence.
Ruku also criticised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of misleading the Mt Kenya region for personal political gain.
According to Ruku, Gachagua failed to meet the region’s expectations while serving as Deputy President and therefore lacks the moral authority to dictate its political direction.
He also faulted opposition leaders, claiming they had failed to deliver meaningful development despite holding public office for many years, and urged residents to continue supporting the Kenya Kwanza administration’s development agenda.
Ruku concluded by saying political decisions should be guided by the need to improve livelihoods and accelerate development while preserving national unity.
The event was attended by Njoroge Kururia, Alice Ng’ang’a, Karen Nyamu, several Kiambu MCAs and other local leaders, who reaffirmed their support for President William Ruto’s bid for a second term.
