MERU, Kenya — A once-tight alliance between President William Ruto and his ousted deputy Rigathi Gachagua unravelled further this weekend, as the two men held competing events in Meru and traded political barbs over land ownership, regional loyalty, and a disputed luxury hotel.

The mountain region, long considered the heartland of Kenyan politics, is quickly becoming the epicentre of a deepening rift between two powerful men vying for the attention—and votes—of Mt Kenya.

Speaking to roadside crowds in Meru County, Mr Gachagua claimed his impeachment earlier this year was part of a broader effort to punish him for purchasing land in the region. “One of the reasons I was removed was because I bought land in Meru,” he said, standing next to his political ally and former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi. “But I am a son of this soil—my mother was born here. I want to build a home among my people.”

He accused the President of hypocrisy, alleging that Mr Ruto had invested in a high-end hotel near Kenya Methodist University, and that a tarmac road was conveniently under construction to serve the property. “The only road being built here leads to that hotel,” said Gachagua, urging residents to boycott it. “We can’t even buy tea or a mandazi from that place.”

The President, who had flown in to preside over a dairy farming exhibition at the Meru ASK showground, fired back—without naming names.

“This is also my home,” he said. “I will build a house here, and no one can stop me. Meru is part of Kenya.” Addressing the murmurs about the hotel, Mr Ruto added: “What’s wrong with investing in Meru? Why shouldn’t I contribute to its growth?”

He dismissed Gachagua’s remarks as petty politics. “I gave someone a job, and he joined hands with cartels to bring in fake fertiliser,” the President said in what many interpreted as a jab at Linturi, who was removed from office amid a scandal involving counterfeit farm inputs.

Mr Ruto insisted his administration was focused on delivery, pointing to reforms in the dairy sector. “We’ve raised milk prices from Sh35 to over Sh50 a litre. The value of milk produced has increased from Sh40 billion to Sh59 billion. That’s progress,” he said.

Still, Mr Gachagua painted a different picture—one of betrayal and economic exclusion. He accused the President of using local Members of Parliament to destabilise the region politically and claimed that the people of Mt Kenya were being short-changed. “In Rift Valley, they get motorbikes and vehicles. Here, we get beans and token handouts,” he said.

The political theatre in Meru was as much about optics as it was about land. Mr Gachagua has positioned himself as the voice of Mt Kenya, drawing on familial ties and historical allegiance. He repeatedly claimed that his removal from office was orchestrated by Mr Ruto due to regional bias.

“Ruto pushed for my impeachment because I bought land here. Is that a crime?” he asked. “I will build a tall house here, one with many floors, where locals can come for help.”

The hotel at the centre of the row, once owned by local MP Rahim Dawood, is reportedly undergoing renovations. Gachagua alleges public funds were being funnelled into the project, a claim the President has not addressed directly.

Political analysts say the Meru showdown could signal deeper fractures in Kenya’s ruling coalition ahead of the 2027 elections. “This wasn’t just about a hotel or a road,” said Muthoni Kamau, a political commentator based in Nairobi. “It’s about who gets to speak for Mt Kenya. And right now, that voice is deeply contested.”

The President, for his part, sought to shift the focus back to policy, announcing new measures to support the dairy industry. These include cutting the cost of sexed semen, tax breaks for yellow maize used in feed, and the distribution of milk coolers to reduce losses.

Whether such promises will calm the storm in Mt Kenya remains to be seen. But for now, one thing is clear: the political temperature in Meru is rising—and both Ruto and Gachagua are refusing to back down.