President William Ruto’s latest political maneuvers have sparked debate and drawn comparisons to the tactics of former President Daniel arap Moi, with allegations that Ruto is employing a strategy to fragment politically powerful regions into smaller, less cohesive groups.
Political analysts, scholars, and residents from the larger Mt Kenya region suggest this approach is reminiscent of Moi’s playbook, which sought to prevent regional unity and diminish collective voting strength.
According to political analyst Dr. James Oloo, Ruto’s strategy focuses on breaking up regions with significant voting power, such as the Mt Kenya region, into smaller units.
“President Moi mastered the art of fragmenting regions to prevent them from rallying behind a single leader,” Oloo noted. “What we are seeing now is a similar tactic where President Ruto aims to have different leaders per county in Central Kenya, effectively weakening any consolidated political influence the region might wield.”
Scholars argue that this approach mirrors Moi policies in the 1980s and 1990s when he was often seen dividing regions like North Eastern, Ukambani, Western, and Mt. Kenya to reduce their political leverage.
Professor Wanjiru Kamau, a political scientist at the University of Nairobi, stated, “Ruto is reviving Moi’s tactic of keeping regions fragmented. By creating divisions within regions such as Mt. Kenya, he ensures that no single leader can consolidate enough power to challenge his authority or demand a fair share of national resources.”
Residents of Central Kenya are beginning to feel the impact of this strategy.
Jane Mwangi, a resident of Kirinyaga, expressed her concerns, saying, “We are seeing efforts to pit leaders against each other, even within the same county. It feels like a calculated move to keep us divided and weak.”
In Mt. Kenya East, President Ruto’s alleged plan to split the region further into two has stirred unease among local leaders and residents alike.
“Breaking the region into smaller factions will only diminish our political voice and make us more vulnerable to manipulation,” said John Mwenda, a community leader from Meru County. “We need to unite for our own good, not be broken apart.”
Political observers say that by segmenting regions and diluting their voting power, the President is likely aiming to ensure easier governance and control.
“Once the regions are segmented, they lose their political power and become more susceptible to external influence and manipulation,” Oloo added.
As the debate continues, the question remains whether this strategy will yield intended political benefits for Ruto or it will backfire by galvanizing these regions to seek unity against perceived external threats to their political influence.
