President Ruto’s Mt Kenya tour dominates online debates
Introduction
The report highlights the trending topics monitored on social media platforms X, Facebook, and TikTok. During the monitoring period, President William Ruto’s five-day tour of the Mt Kenya region shaped the trending hashtags, including the President’s interview with vernacular stations where he mounted grievous allegations against his former Deputy President, Kenyans’ reaction to the Inspector General of Police addressing a political rally, and the heckling of political leaders in certain regions during the tour.
Gachagua’s adventures
Against the backdrop of President William Ruto’s five-day tour of the Mt Kenya region, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was a trending topic, notably on Facebook. On March 31, a day before the President’s visit, the former DP held a roadside rally in Wangige, Kiambu County, where he urged Mount Kenya residents to demand honesty from Ruto during his tour, accusing the President of planning to take credit for projects initiated by former President Uhuru Kenyatta. Gachagua also took a provocative stance, warning residents against accepting what he called “cursed money” from Ruto’s camp.
The former DP also made headlines after President Ruto mounted bombshell allegations against him during an interview with vernacular stations at the Sagana State Lodge on March 31. The President claimed that Gachagua had demanded Sh10 billion from him. According to Ruto, this sum was a condition for Gachagua to “talk to the people” of Mount Kenya and ensure Ruto’s second term, with the former DP allegedly threatening to make him a one-term president if the demand was not met. Ruto further accused Gachagua of failing to defend the government’s agenda and engaging in petty conflicts with MPs and officials, which strained their working relationship.
The hashtag #Gachagua on Facebook saw netizens discuss especially the political dynamics of the interview and the President’s tour of the Mt Kenya region. Over 28K netizens engaged in the discussions. A closer look at mainstream media pages indicated that NTV Kenya attracted more than 42K reactions within 20 hours of posting while Citizen TV attracted 10K reactions.
Impact on media
The clash between former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and President William Ruto significantly influenced online conversations. Gachagua’s fiery rally and Ruto’s Sh10 billion corruption claim drew massive attention on social media, especially Facebook, polarising public opinion. Mainstream outlets like Nation and The Star offered detailed coverage, while vernacular stations, encouraged by Ruto’s media engagement, fueled regional sentiments. The incident underscored the media’s growing influence in shaping political discourse and mobilising public opinion in Kenya.
Kanja’s politics
On TikTok, the appearance of Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja at a political rally in Kieni, Nyeri County, on April 2, 2025, during President William Ruto’s Mount Kenya tour, sparked significant controversy and became a trending topic. The video, which depicted the IG addressing Nyeri residents after he was introduced on stage by the Deputy President, Prof Kithure Kindiki, gained traction, with more than 95K reach and engagement as netizens condemned him for going against the law to attend such events. In the widely circulated videos, the IG is seen on stage in full police regalia, and in Kikuyu language, addressing residents, “Are you happy to see our President here? Are you grateful? Do you want him to come back again?”
On April 3, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) demanded the IG’s apology or resignation, noting that the Inspector-General had a constitutional obligation to serve all Kenyans impartially, regardless of political affiliation. The statements by the LSK president Faith Odhiambo added to the already trending hashtag, prompting over 2K reactions. The National Police Service on the same day, issued a response to the matter, claiming Kanja’s presence was purely for security oversight, not political engagement, citing his duties under the National Police Service Act. Additionally, allegations that NPS termed the video AI generated also circulated, adding fuel to the fire and prompting a wave of memes and AI-themed edits under #KanjaAI.
Impact on media
The appearance of Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja at a political rally in Nyeri on April 2, 2025, during President Ruto’s Mount Kenya tour, triggered a seismic impact on media, particularly on TikTok, where hashtags like #DouglasKanja and #NyeriRally exploded into a trending phenomenon. Kanja’s speech, delivered in Kikuyu and perceived as politically charged, was captured in viral videos that racked up thousands of posts, blending outrage, memes, and skits, amplifying public discussions on police neutrality. Mainstream outlets like The Standard and Citizen Digital provided factual updates, while TikTok became the epicentre of raw reaction, with users stitching LSK’s condemnation and NPS’s “AI-generated” defence into a mix of satire and serious critique, driving hashtags like #KanjaMustGo.
Nyandarua heckling
The heckling of Kikuyu Member of Parliament and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah in Nyandarua County on April 3, 2025, during President William Ruto’s Mount Kenya tour became a trending topic on X and Facebook under the hashtag #Nyandarua, igniting a storm of intrigue and online buzz. The incident occurred in Ol Kalou, where Ichung’wah, a staunch Ruto ally, attempted to speak about affordable housing projects during the launch of the last-mile electricity connectivity initiative. As he took the stage, the crowd erupted in jeers, whistles, and vuvuzela blasts, drowning out his voice and forcing him to cut his speech short. Videos of the chaotic scene went viral, showing Ichung’wah defiantly declaring, “I am not someone to be shouted down,” before sarcastically thanking the hostile audience.
On X, the intrigues unfolded through a mix of analysis, humour, and political jabs, with notable leaders including Nyandarua’s Senator John Methu, commenting via his X page that “The Sh2000 we received as Nyandarua residents was for listening to Ruto only. Other politicians should have paid separately.” The hashtag trended at position 2, amassing over 28K tweets after trending for five consecutive hours.
Facebook, meanwhile, became a battleground for longer-form reactions and community sentiment. Pages like The Standard and Kenyans.co.ke shared footage of the heckling, sparking heated comment threads. The heckling of other figures like Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri and Nyandarua Woman Representative Faith Gitau at the same event further fueled the hashtag’s momentum. More than 11K people discussed the news item, while scrutiny on leading pages such as Kenyans indicated that within 5 hours of posting, the news item had attracted 3.3K interactions.
Impact on media
The heckling of Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah in Nyandarua on April 3, 2025, during President Ruto’s Mount Kenya tour sent shockwaves through media, propelling the hashtag #Nyandarua to trend on X and Facebook and reshaping the narrative around the region’s political pulse. Viral videos of the jeering crowd shared widely on both platforms, turned the incident into a media spectacle, with X users like Nyandarua Senator John Methu driving sharp commentary and memes that racked up thousands of engagements, framing Ichung’wah as a symbol of Mount Kenya’s growing discontent. Facebook amplified the story through community pages and heated comment threads, where posts from outlets like The Standard sparked debates pitting Gachagua loyalists against Ruto supporters, some garnering hundreds of shares. The event’s ripple effect bled into mainstream coverage, with TV and online news dissecting its ties to the Gachagua-Ruto rift, while the hashtag underscored social media’s role as a real-time barometer of public sentiment.
