President William Ruto’s recent tour of Nyeri and the broader Mt Kenya region has set off a storm of commentary on social media, with voices across the political spectrum dissecting his popularity and electoral prospects ahead of the 2027 election.
On X (formerly Twitter), senior lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi SC lit the fuse with a direct assessment of Ruto’s electoral fortunes. In a widely shared post, Ahmednasir wrote: “I don’t think H.E @WilliamsRuto will in 2027 get 80% of the Mt Kenya he got in 2022, but it looks like today he has 50+1 of the Mountain’s vote.”
That statement triggered a wave of reaction. Some users seized on the numerical forecast to suggest that Ruto’s once‑solid Mt Kenya base may be showing cracks.
PUSH-BACK
Opposition‑leaning posts on X depicted the Ahmednasir forecast as confirmation of what they say is a slipping mandate. These commentators argue that large crowd photos from Nyeri are superficial optics rather than proof of genuine political momentum, echoing broader criticism online of Ruto’s handling of national issues. On platforms like Reddit, users discuss whether rallies “show up online” but fail to reflect deeper voter discontent tied to economic and governance grievances.
Supporters of the President pushed back energetically.
In replies to the same thread, several voices defended Ruto’s sustained pull in Central Kenya, pointing to recent rally turnout and alignments with regional governors that preceded the tour. Local politicians including Anne Waiguru have publicly asserted that “the turnout by people during this visit … clearly shows that he still enjoys support” in the region.
POLITICAL TERRAIN
Whether one interprets Ahmednasir’s 50 + 1 figure as a warning or an underestimation, the exchange underscores a widening fissure in how Kenyans on social media view Ruto’s Mt Kenya standing, from steadfast loyalty to a contested political terrain that experts and enthusiasts alike will be watching closely as 2027 draws nearer.
But one truth stands: While the president’s popularity in the region had suffered after Rigathi gachagu’s ouster as his Deputy President, the region is slowly drifting back, and it no longer in unison chanting “Ruto must go” as it was the case a year ago.
