President William Ruto’s Sh21 billion investment pledge in Nyeri County carries added political weight, coming at a time of heightened tension between his administration and sections of the Mt Kenya region.
Nyeri is the home county of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, whose fallout with Ruto has reshaped regional politics and unsettled the President’s traditional support base. Mt Kenya was central to Ruto’s 2022 election victory, delivering him millions of votes, but recent months have seen growing discontent, with some residents openly chanting “one term” at public gatherings — a signal of declining goodwill ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
Ruto announced that the funds will be used to build 8,000 affordable housing units, construct 20 modern markets and develop hostels to accommodate 7,200 students. He said the projects are meant to create jobs for young people, improve access to affordable housing and boost business opportunities for traders and entrepreneurs.
The President was speaking in Karatina, where he commissioned the Karatina Marigiti Modern Market. The facility includes a children’s daycare centre, an ICT hub and a restaurant, amenities the government says are designed to support traders, working parents and digital innovation.
The Nyeri projects come as Ruto intensifies development tours in Mt Kenya, a region where rising taxes, the cost of living, political realignments and Gachagua’s removal from office have fuelled resentment. Analysts see the renewed focus on flagship projects as both an economic intervention and a political attempt to steady support in a region that is no longer firmly behind the President.
