Uhuru's historic Nyanza tour starts

President Uhuru Kenyatta during his tour of Kisumu county, April 18, 2017. /PSCU
President Uhuru Kenyatta during his tour of Kisumu county, April 18, 2017. /PSCU

President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to land at Ahero in Kisumu any time now for the start of the long-awaited tour of the Nyanza region.

This is the first time Uhuru will be visiting the political home turf of ODM leader Raila Odinga after the March 9 handshake.

After landing, the President will launch the construction work at the Ahero Interchange Road.

He will then proceed to Kisumu town by road accompanied by AU envoy and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

The two leaders will address residents along the Ahero-Kisumu road and the famous Kondele town on their way to Mamboleo.

From here, Uhuru will then head to officially open the newly done Kisumu- Kakamega road before meeting leaders of various women Saccos.

Uhuru will finally proceed to officially launch the pilot of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme at Mamboleo showground.

The UHC programme, one of the items in the Big Four agenda, will be piloted in four counties - Kisumu, Nyeri, Isiolo and Machakos.

More than 3.2 million Kenyans will be the first beneficiaries of the health package during the pilot to the tune of Sh3.9 billion.

He is also expected to talk about the SGR leg to Kisumu and the Port Construction.

The region expects to benefit from completion of the 254km standard gauge railway between Naivasha and Kisumu.

The section is projected to cost Sh380 billion.

Preparations are complete with leaders from the region and locals ready to welcome the President.

Security has been beefed up in Kisumu and its environs.

Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong’o and MPs James Nyikal (Seme), Fred Ouda (Kisumu Central) and Muhoroni MP Onyango Koyoo (Muhoroni) and Jared Okelo (Nyando) said they are ready.

Read:

Nyong’o said more than 240,000 households have been registered ahead of the UHC

launch.

After launching the universal health care scheme, the president will host leaders for dinner at the Kisumu State lodge.

On Friday, Uhuru will proceed to Bondo via road addressing roadside crowds before joining Raila for the graduation ceremony at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Bondo, Siaya county.

The two will be joined by South African Vice President David Mabuza before heading to JOOUST.

Uhuru and Raila will be conferred honorary degrees for their 'handshake' deal.

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