Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku speaking on Sunday during a fundraising event in Wayu,
Galole Constituency./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has intensified Kenya Kwanza's early 2027 election mobilisation, urging Tana River residents to acquire national identity cards and register as voters to bolster President William Ruto's re-election bid.
Speaking during a fundraising event in Wayu, Galole Constituency, on Sunday, Ruku said the government was rolling out a drive to boost ID ownership and voter registration in Tana River and other northern frontier counties, including Isiolo, Marsabit and North Eastern, through the government's Rapid Response Initiatives (RRI).
The CS expressed concern over thousands of uncollected national identity cards lying in Huduma Centres across the country, saying eligible Kenyans should collect the documents immediately before registering as voters.
"I urge all eligible residents to register for National Identity Cards in large numbers. Thousands of IDs remain uncollected in Huduma Centres across the country. If you have applied for one, ensure you collect it once it is ready," Ruku said.
He added that obtaining an ID should be followed by voter registration to increase participation in the next General Election.
"Once you have your ID, the next step is to register as a voter. We want to see more people from Tana River registered so they can participate in the next election and support President William Ruto."
Ruku also launched a political attack on the opposition, accusing Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua and his allies of advancing divisive politics and ethnic mobilisation instead of addressing the needs of Kenyans.
He argued that some of the leaders now criticising the government had failed to deliver while serving in senior public offices.
"We know they failed the people of Kenya. They were given important responsibilities but did not deliver. Instead of working closely with elected leaders, they have now resorted to arrogance and tribal politics," he said.
The CS further dismissed suggestions that the Mt Kenya region was drifting away from Kenya Kwanza following Gachagua's exit from government, insisting the region remained firmly behind President Ruto.
"The people of Mt Kenya helped form this government and they are not leaving because one individual is no longer in office. We will continue working with the people of Tana River, the Coast, Rift Valley, North Eastern and every other part of the country to unite Kenyans and move the nation forward under President William Ruto's leadership," he said.
Ruku was accompanied by Tana River Woman Representative Amina Dika and Taveta MP John Bwire, who both reaffirmed their support for President Ruto's second-term bid.
Dika dismissed calls by the opposition to align with Gachagua, saying Tana River leaders remained firmly behind the President.
"As leaders from Tana River, we fully support President William Ruto's second-term bid and have no interest in joining Gachagua," she said.
Ruku's remarks came a day after Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale urged leaders and residents of pastoralist counties to deliver at least five million votes for President Ruto in the 2027 election.
Speaking during a wedding ceremony in Garissa on Saturday, Duale said the region had the numbers to significantly influence the outcome of the next presidential race if more eligible residents acquired national identity cards and registered as voters.
Leaders at the event./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku speaking on Sunday during a fundraising event in Wayu,
Galole Constituency. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku has a word with Former Tana river Governor Hussein Dado. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Residents of Wayu, Galole Constituency at the event. /STEPHEN
ASTARIKO
Tana River Woman Representative Amina Dika./STEPHEN
ASTARIKO
