The Kenya International Convention Centre (KICC) board chairperson Irungu Nyakera has declared that he will be skipping President William Ruto's highly anticipated Mount Kenya tour.
In a statement on Sunday, March 30, Nyakera stated that he would be otherwise engaged with school work at Oxford University.
"I will not be present during the President’s upcoming visit to Mt Kenya as I am still in school at Oxford University. That said, I want to share my message with the people and leaders of Mt Kenya," he stated.
However, he advised the Mount Kenya community to focus on development issues instead of partaking in politicking for their own good.
"In the last election, Mt Kenya voted for development, and development, as we all know, comes through the Office of the President. When he visits next week, let our focus be on that development - not on the politics," the former Principal Secretary stated.
"History has taught us harsh lessons. When Mzee Jomo Kenyatta visited Kisumu with Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and was received with hostility, development in that region came to a halt for decades."
He further drew parallels with President Uhuru's final term, where the region reportedly allowed politics to override cooperation, thus letting developments bypass the region.
According to Nyakera, the time for politics would soon come when they would be open to discussing issues not to do with politics but to engage with the President on development issues in the region for this trip.
"A time for politics will come—but it is not now, and it is certainly not next week. This is a time to engage constructively, to secure what we voted for, and to prioritize the needs of our people," he concluded.
The upcoming trip by President Ruto will be the first time he will be touring the region since the highly publicised impeachment of his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, which prompted a split in his support from the region.
Gachagua's allies from the region, most of whom are still members of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), have not held back punches in attacking their party leader over the decision.
Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba and Gachagua's diehard ally is one of these who have since issued demands ahead of the President's upcoming trip.
In an open letter to the President on Sunday, Wamuchomba urged him to nullify newly gazetted coffee levies which, she noted, highly affected farmers in the central region.
''Dear Mr President, as you prepare to visit the Central region please note that we are uncomfortable with your latest proposed and gazzetted levies on coffee value chain,'' Wamuchomba noted.
''Your CS in charge of Treasury and Economic Planning gazetted a regulation introducing new levies on coffee sales without farmers consultations and clearance by National Assembly. This was on February 7, 2025.''
