STORY By BRIAN MUSYOKA
For weeks, Geoffrey Ruku kept an unusually low profile. The once-fiery Mbeere North MP, a regular voice on morning talk shows and political roundtables, had suddenly gone silent. Speculation was rife ,was he plotting his next move? Was he lying low after political battles? Little did he know that fate was about to reward his years of resilience with a golden opportunity and get a nomination to President Ruto’s Cabinet.
Ruku’s political journey is one of grit, persistence, and unyielding ambition. His rise to the Cabinet is not just a victory but a testament to a man who refused to stay down, a man who turned rejection into fuel, and failure into stepping stones. His story is nothing short of extraordinary.
He has a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Nairobi, a Postgraduate Diploma in Diplomacy and International Relations from the same institution, and Bachelor of Commerce from the Catholic University of East Africa, specializing in Business Administration.
He brings on board a cross-industry experience from the public sector, international industries and the private sector having been a Member of Parliament, worked with the Israeli government and various private and non-governmental agencies in Kenya, across Africa and beyond.
The 6.5-foot-tall politician has fought his way up from the trenches of failure. His political dream began in 2002 when he vied for the Nthawa Ward Councilor seat only to be rejected at the ballot. But Ruku was no quitter. In 2013, he aimed higher, gunning for the Siakago parliamentary seat. Again, the electorate shut the door on him.
Undeterred, he aligned with the Federal Party of Kenya (FPK) but still fell short of clinching the Mbeere North parliamentary seat. Then came 2017, a bruising year. He lost the Jubilee Party nomination for Embu Senator to Njeru Ndwiga. In a bold move, he switched gears, abandoning the senatorial race to make another attempt at the MP seat as an independent candidate. Yet again, he was defeated by incumbent Muriuki Njagagua. For many, that would have been the end of the road. But not for Ruku.
Then came 2022, the year his resilience bore fruit. Armed with lessons from past failures and a sharpened political strategy, Ruku ran on the Democratic Party (DP) ticket. Against all odds, he dethroned Njagagua, securing his long coveted parliamentary seat. His victory was was symbolic as it marked the triumph of persistence over despair.
Ruku’s journey to the Cabinet was not just about winning elections. It was about building the right alliances. His loyalty to President William Ruto dates back years, to the days when Ruto was the Minister of Agriculture. As the United Republican Party (URP) chairman in Embu County, Ruku played a pivotal role in grassroots mobilization, ensuring Ruto had a solid base in the region.
After his election in 2022 ,in Parliament, he became one of the Kenya Kwanza government’s fiercest defenders, absorbing criticism and championing Ruto’s policies with unmatched zeal. His vocal support did not go unnoticed, and when a Cabinet reshuffle loomed, his name was whispered in the corridors of power. Finally, the call came: Ruku was nominated as Cabinet Secretary public service Human Capital Development and Special Programs, replacing the ousted Justin Muturi.
Beyond politics, Ruku has left an indelible mark on education in Mbeere North. In just two and half years as MP, he has transformed schools that once had mud-walled classrooms into modern, tiled institutions. He championed a significant bursary increase, raising allocations from Ksh 5,000 to between KSh 8,000 and KSh 10,000. His initiative reduced the financial burden on struggling parents, allowing them to pay only KSh 1,300 per term for day school students. Even his political rivals acknowledge his impact.
Ruku’s nomination to the Cabinet has triggered political tremors in Mbeere North. With his parliamentary seat now vacant, the battle for succession is on. Heavyweights are already scrambling to fill the void, with the by-election on the way.
Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji, a close ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, has already hit the ground running. Yesterday his presence at EAPC B.A.T Church in Nthawa Ward signaled the beginning of Gachagua’s political machinery in the area, with former Deputy Speaker Steve Simba standing by his side.
Meanwhile, across the constituency in Muminji Ward, former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti made a grand entrance at Emmanuel ACK Gangara Church. The seasoned politician, who chairs the Devolution Empowerment Party (Bus Party), was flanked by key MCAs, including Newton Karish (Muminji), Lenny Mwaniki Masters (Kiambere), and Ngari Mbaka (Mavuria). Speculation is rife that Kivuti is grooming Karish to carry the Bus Party’s flag in the by-election, a strategic move ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial race.
Ruku, now a Cabinet Secretary nominee, is not taking a backseat either. He visited Jesus Flock Sanctuary Church in Siakago before leading a bursary issuance event. His entourage included Embu business community chair Mungatana Mwaniki, former Mbeere North MP aspirant Stephen Ngari M’Makindu, and environmental expert Konji Kwayo. Pundits say Ruku will be a key figure in whoever will succeed him.
The by-election is expected to be a high-stakes political brawl. Justin Muturi’s DP Party is also expected to field a candidate, Ruku will back his own successor, and Gachagua’s camp is gearing up for a battle. With Lenny Kivuti also positioning himself through the Bus Party, Mbeere North is set for a fierce political contest.
During the bursary event, Ruku welcomed President Ruto’s upcoming tour of the Mt. Kenya region and threw a challenge to critics: “If you think this government has done nothing, come to Mbeere North and see for yourself.”
From a struggling politician to a Cabinet Secretary, Geoffrey Ruku’s story is a powerful reminder that persistence and resilience always pay off.
MWINGI TIMES for timely and authoritative news.
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