Ruto bags Ngatia as he moves to tame elderly members of MKF

Shockwaves have rocked Mount Kenya Foundation after President William Ruto met with the president of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), Richard Ngatia,  at State House, Nairobi. The meeting, which had serious political implications, has sent the old forces of MKF back to the drawing as Ruto appears determined to use young Kikuyu tycoons to neutralize their influence in the vote-rich Mt.Kenya region.

MKF stood with former President Uhuru Kenyatta when he abandoned his deputy in the race to the August 9 general elections and bankrolled Mzee Raila Odinga, who was beaten by Ruto in the presidential race. Ngatia was in the same camp but backed down after the group barred him from flying the Jubilee Party flag in Nairobi gubernatorial race.

Ngatia shifts with the influence he commands among the new generation that was backing him for Nairobi’s top seat to work with President Ruto, who is out to bring on board fresh blood to counter old ones who are embroiled in bitter fights and blame games after the failure of ‘Project Raila.’

He will bring to bring on Ruto’s side Stanley Kinyanjui of Magnate Ventures, Joe Kibe, Isaac Maina Wandere of Wonderjoy, Dennis Waweru, and Faida Securities, among others. Ngatia has also been tasked to cause divisions among the old generation and lure Titus Ibui, Peter Munga, Michael Waweru, Mutuma Nkanata, Uhuru uncle George Muhoho, SK Macharia of Royal Media, Pius Ngugi, and Eddy Njoroge to the government side.

A section of MKF is currently strategizing to challenge president Ruto in 2027 as they pressure Raila to back Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka after failing to clinch the presidency five times. Ngatia is an excellent mobilizer, in 2017, he was among the Kikuyu tycoons who raised billions of shillings in less than two hours in an exclusive dinner at the Safari Park Hotel to fund UhuRuto campaigns.

His close working relationship with Ruto s giving MKF members sleepless nights since Ruto will use him and other vibrant Kikuyu tycoons to muzzle them as he seeks re-election in 2027. Kenyan Bulletin can authoritatively report that Ngatia shifted to secretly support Sakaja’s bid for Nairobi governorship immediately after MKF and Uhuru’s sister who needed a sycophant at the City Hall denied him Jubilee ticket in favor of Polycarp Igathe.

He felt the wrath of powerful Kenyatta’s the same way tycoon Paul Wanderi Ndungu did when he was kicked out of Sportpesa management but he laid low like Equity Bank CEO James Mwangi who also backed Ruto secretly to avoid annoying Uhuru Kenyatta.

Ngatia recently paid a courtesy call to Ruto at State House Nairobi, where they spoke at length as he presented the needs of the nation’s business community to the head of state who pledged to create an environment that will favor legitimate businesses including small and medium-sized enterprises.