Mt Kenya will back you at the ballot - AIPCA Bishop assures Ruto

Gatundu North AIPCA's Rt. Rev Bishop Simon Karatu speaking during a church service on December 14, 2025 / PCS

An Anglican Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) bishop from Gatundu North has publicly assured President William Ruto of Mt Kenya’s political support.

Rt. Rev Bishop Simon Karatu dismissed claims that the region may withdraw its backing ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking during a church service on Sunday, the cleric said Mt Kenya residents would stand firmly with the President, describing Ruto as a father figure who listens to the concerns of his people.

“As our father, we shall bring all our needs to your attention because you love us. Some people were saying that our President Ruto should forget Mt Kenya votes. Mt Kenya is us,” the Bishop Karatu l said.

The bishop pledged that the region would vote overwhelmingly and early in the day in support of Ruto’s leadership.

He urged  the President not to be concerned about his political standing in the region, affirming continued loyalty and support. 

“We want to assure our President that the person who was claiming that we shall not give you our votes, that early in the morning, we shall vote in our President to continue with work,” Karatu added.

“Amen, President Ruto, you should not worry. We love you and we shall continue with this journey together.”

His sentiments come amid growing political debate over President Ruto’s support base in the Mt Kenya region, a key voting bloc in national elections.

In June, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua told President Ruto not to count on the Mt Kenya region’s support in the 2027 General Election.

Gachagua accused the President of betrayal and ignoring the region’s expectations.

“My brother William Ruto, I cannot help you. Don’t blame me, I'm not the cause,” Gachagua said.

“I sat you down and told you that people from the mountain loved you, but they hate being betrayed.”

 The leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) said he had repeatedly warned Ruto about growing dissatisfaction in Mt Kenya over how national affairs were being managed.

“My brother William Ruto, you have lost the mountain. Let me advise you for free; forget about this mountain. If you have any plan to be re-elected, in your formula and mathematics, remove the mountain because it is gone forever,” he declared.

He accused the President of abandoning a strong voting bloc in favour of smaller political gains elsewhere.

“He has left four million votes to chase one million votes,” Gachagua remarked, in what appeared to be a reference to Ruto’s efforts to widen his support base beyond Mt Kenya.

The President later defended his administration’s development agenda dismissing his former deputy as a “propagandist,” insisting his investments in Meru and other regions were driven by national interest, not political manoeuvring.