- Ruto was attanding a church service in Homa Bay.
- That was his first visit to any county outside Nairobi since his inauguration.
President William Ruto on Sunday bestowed gifts and goodwill to the restive Nyanza region, making his first visit outside Nairobi since he was sworn in as the fifth President.
The choice of Homa Bay, an area that voted for his main political rival Raila Odinga, was telling for the head of state who is keen on expanding his political territory after a heated and divisive campaigns.
Ruto rallied the region to back his administration reminding them politics is over and what remains is forging ahead to take the country to the next level.
“I will deliver on the agreements I promised during my campaigns when I visited this region. Together with the elected leaders, we will tackle the issues that affect our country and every sector,”Ruto promised.
He listed stalled road projects, sewerage lines, water projects and revival of farming as some of the priority areas his government will be addressing in line with his campaign promises.
Topping the list of President’s plan for the county is multi-billion shilling low cost housing programme that will not only ensure decent housing to the residents but will also engage the local youths.
The President said he will be in the county in November for ground breaking of 5,000 housing units to be done in two phases.
The first phase will see 2,000 low cost houses sprouting up in the county from November.
Ruto also promised to revive cotton growing in the Nyanza belt using the modern varieties to ensure high returns for farmers.
He said he will chair a cabinet meeting on Monday to approve the biotech cotton paving way for its rollout in the country.
Speaking at AIC Church in Homa Bay county, the President pledged to sort the water problems in the county by bringing to completion various water projects in Rangwe, Sindo and West Karachuonyo.
The President also promised a 200km tarmac road within the county once his administration has realigned this year’s budget.
“You will give me some time to realign the budget then I will come to bring them to completion,” he said.
Some of the roads in Ruto’s radar include Mbita/Karungu Road, Rangwe/Nyaburu Road and the 18km Adiedo/No. Karabok Road.
Under Ruto’s plan for the county, Homa Bay Town and Suba South constituencies will each get a Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institution to empower youths with appropriate technical skills.
The head of state also assured the region that his administration will treat both retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and Azimio boss Raila Odinga with utmost respect for the role they played in transforming the country.
The President committed he will serve all Kenyans and ensure his government delivers on all campaign pledges without discriminating any region.
“In November 2021. I was here and we had a big meeting with many leaders and we agreed on many development priorities in this region. Homa Bay will not lag behind as Kenya moves on,” Ruto said.
The President’s event was however given a wide berth by all the area elected leaders including Governor Gladys Wanga and area lawmaker Opondo Kaluma.
While Wanga said she was out of the county at the time of the visit, Kaluma explained he was only informed hours to the President’s visit to his constituency.
“I am out of the county on official duty and will therefore be unable to join HE for the church service and have communicated the same to His Excellency,” Wanga said in a statement.
"Just got information that President William Ruto will be in Homa Bay today (Sunday). Welcome. I'm unable to be with you due to a lack of means. Let there be better coordination in future so that the MP whose constituency you're visiting has information and is available to receive you," he tweeted.
Ruto was accompanied by ICT Cabinet Secretary nominee Eliud Owalo, Education PS Julius Jwan, Kiharu MP Ndidi Nyoro, Ugenya MP David Ochieng’, former Governors Okoth Obado (Migori), Jack Ranguma (Kisumu), Fred Outa, Sylvanus Osele, former CAS Ken Obura, Nicholas Gumbo, Martin Ogindo, Dalmas Otieno and olago Aluoch.
Owalo asked the region to embrace the Kenya Kwanza administration which he noted will keep its promises to the region.
"In our history, since independence, his (Ruto's) government is going to deliver based on commitments made before elections," Owalo said.
Ochieng' thanked the President for considering Nyanza in his cabinet and vowed to rally the region in supporting the hustler agenda.