Report reveals Ruto’s Mt Kenya crowd was scripted and paid

President William Ruto finished his five-day tour of the Mt Kenya region on Saturday, with his last stop in Kiambu County. During the tour, he moved from one county to another, launching many development projects and meeting residents.

The visit was meant to reassure the region of his commitment, especially at a time when his relationship with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua had caused tension and reduced his popularity in the area.

Even though support for Ruto had gone down in some parts of Mt Kenya, he was still received by large crowds in most areas he visited.

Supporters waited for hours to welcome him, shouting and waving as he arrived. The scenes looked impressive and made it appear like Ruto still enjoyed strong support.

People listened carefully as he spoke about his plans for the region and promised to deliver more development.

However, a recent report by the Standard newspaper gave a different story about the tour. The report revealed that many people in the crowds were actually hired to attend. These individuals were given money, ranging from 300 shillings to as much as 10,000 shillings, depending on the role they were assigned.

Some wore matching uniforms and acted excited on cue. Their job was to cheer loudly, clap at the right moments, and make the crowd look enthusiastic.Even though they were paid, the people performed their duties very well.

To an outsider, the excitement seemed real. The president’s speeches were met with applause, and every place he went appeared full of supporters. But behind the scenes, it was a well-coordinated effort to hide the growing dissatisfaction among local residents.

Interestingly, the enthusiasm seemed to be only for the president himself. Other leaders who tried to speak at the rallies faced a very different reaction. As soon as President Ruto passed them the microphone, the crowd became quiet, and in some places, people even walked away or booed the speakers.

It looked like the instructions were clear show excitement only for the president and ignore or reject anyone else.

This development has raised questions about the real mood in Mt Kenya and whether the region is truly united behind Ruto, or if the crowds were just part of a staged show.

While the tour may have looked successful on the surface, the truth behind the smiles and cheers tells a more complicated story about politics, loyalty, and image in Kenyan leadership.