If betrayal had a face, it would be that of Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse. After fiercely championing the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Mutuse was confident he would land a powerful parliamentary position.
But when the rewards were handed out, he was left with nothing. Now, whispers of regret fill the air as he comes to terms with the brutal reality of being a pawn in President William Ruto’s high-stakes political game.
The Betrayal of Mwengi Mutuse
Mutuse had staked everything on Ruto’s word. He believed he was next in line for a top parliamentary committee seat, expecting to be rewarded for his loyalty and ruthless execution of Ruto’s agenda.
At one point, he confidently told close associates that he would be appointed Chief Whip, convinced that Sylvanus Osoro was headed for a Cabinet Secretary position. But Osoro never left, and the promised vacancy never materialized.
Undeterred, Mutuse set his sights on the influential chairmanship of the parliamentary budget committee, held by Ndindi Nyoro. The plan was simple: after Gachagua’s ouster, Nyoro would be next.
Then came the bombshell. When the committee positions were reassigned, the seats went to ODM members, not Ruto loyalists like Mutuse. His dreams were crushed overnight.
Mutuse’s Premature Victory Dance
Just a day before the appointments, Mutuse was in Kibwezi, boasting to his constituents. Speaking in Kikamba, he hinted at an imminent victory.
“Things are very good,” he declared, suggesting that he had just received confirmation from Parliament about his appointment. Sources revealed to Nyakundi Report that Mutuse had been fed false information—possibly by State House operatives who duped him for a fee.
The next day, the budget committee chair went to ODM’s Samuel Atandi, leaving Mutuse humiliated and sidelined.
Ruto’s Ruthless Dismissal
Mutuse, devastated, switched off his phone for two days. A grand celebration he had planned for Kibwezi locals was abruptly canceled. He retreated to his home in Athi River, avoiding public appearances.
Ruto’s response to Mutuse’s complaints was cold and final. The president reportedly dismissed Mutuse’s grievances, reminding him that he had already been paid KSh 20 million to table the motion against Gachagua.
“The deal was settled,” Ruto is said to have remarked, adding that some MPs only received KSh 500,000 and were content.
Mutuse now finds himself politically stranded, a stark warning to any leader who blindly trusts Ruto’s political promises. He played the game, but in the end, he was outplayed.
