“I Won’t Kneel”: Ruto Fires Back at Mt Kenya Power Brokers in Explosive Maragua Speech

President William Ruto took his political defense to Maragua Constituency in Murang’a County, where he rebuked leaders attempting to position themselves as regional gatekeepers for Central Kenya. Addressing a local rally, the president countered what he termed as rising arrogance among opponents who claim to control the region’s electoral direction for the 2027 polls. He insisted that the voters themselves remain the ultimate judges of his administration’s performance.

“Mimi ni mfanyikazi wenu. Kuna mwingine anasema ati niende nikuwe mfanyikazi wake. Nioshe sufuria, vyombo kwake, hiyo asahau kabisa. Mimi nitakuja kuongea na nyinyi, ama namna gani? Na nyinyi mtapima kazi yangu.”

The president maintained that his allegiance lies with the general public rather than a small, influential circle focused on private gain. He dismissed the notion that any individual holds the region’s votes in trust, characterizing such claims as a sign of detachment from the reality on the ground.

“There are people who are very arrogant. They say they are the ones who will decide. They claim they are carrying people’s votes in their pockets,” the president said.

Ruto also revealed that certain critics have tried to leverage their support by placing specific demands on his leadership. He flatly rejected these ultimatums, stating that he will not seek political validation through subservience to self-appointed power brokers.

“They are giving us conditions, saying if we don’t do this, then I must kneel before someone so that they can tell people to vote for me. They should forget about that completely and abandon that arrogance,” he said.

The Head of State maintained that leadership in Kenya rests on democratic principles rather than the whims of a few individuals. He asserted that citizens make collective decisions based on the tangible results and service delivery they see on the ground, rather than following the instructions of self-appointed mediators.

“Nitanyenyekea kwa wananchi na nipige magoti kwa Mungu, lakini kwa binadamu siwezi,” Ruto said.

Ruto further dismissed the notion that political figures can dictate the personal choices of Kenyans, including their religious affiliations or lifestyle preferences. He argued against the idea that any group possesses the authority to micromanage how citizens live or whom they support.

“They want to decide for us the song we listen to, which church you will follow, where you will go, and which leaders you will choose. I want to ask you, will they decide for you or you decide for yourselves?” he posed to the crowd.

The president stood firm on his original mandate, reminding his supporters that his authority flows directly from public trust. He sought to reaffirm his bond with the electorate, framing his refusal to bow to political elites as a commitment to the people who voted for him.

“Didn’t you choose me to work for you?” he asked. “Did you choose me to go and kneel before others? Didn’t you choose me to serve you?”

The president’s comments follow a series of sharp accusations from his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, who has warned of political consequences for what he describes as a betrayal of the Mt. Kenya region.

While touring Nyandarua County, Gachagua reflected on his previously close relationship with the president, noting how quickly political tides have turned.

“I had a friend who we worked with and whom I helped very much; he used to call me Riggy G and Baba Kevin, but now he is pretending not to know me. He is now calling me a tribalist,” Gachagua stated.

The former deputy president expressed a newfound sense of caution, suggesting that the electorate in the region will no longer grant their support without rigorous scrutiny. He stressed that the unpredictability of political alliances has forced a shift in how the region will engage with national leadership moving forward.

“Now we only depend on God because human beings are unpredictable; some of us, especially people from this region are now very careful. If someone comes to us now, we will do a thorough background check,” Gachagua added.

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