President William Ruto on Thursday began an extensive tour of Western counties as he seeks to bolster his support in the region.
A tentative program shows that the head of state will be in Kakamega on Friday to inspect various development projects.
He is also expected to preside over the Masinde Muliro University graduation ceremony slated for Saturday.
He will also visit Kakamega county teaching and referral hospital before holding a consultative meeting with leaders from the region at the State lodge in Lurambi.
He is also set to hold meet-the-people tours
“All is set for the President’s two-day Kakamega visit,” twitted Kakamega governor Fernandes Barasa.
Prime cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Wetang'ula are expected to accompany Ruto on the tours.
On Friday, Ruto will grace the graduation ceremony at Masinde Muliro University.
His tour also comes at a time voters in the neighbouring Bungoma are going to the ballot to elect a new senator, a seat which fell vacant after former senator Moses Wetang'ula got elected as the Speaker of the National Assembly.
Ruto's tour is coming at a time he has 'mended' fences with his political rivals from the region who include COTU secretary general Francis Atwoli and Kakamega Governor Fernandes Baraza.
Last week Atwoli, in the company of other leaders from the Luhya community met the president at State House.
Ruto is seeking to galvanize the region which has over the years voted as a bloc for his political nemesis Raila Odinga.
In the run-up to the August 9 general election, Ruto made political forays in the region which appeared to have paid him off.
While Raila got 955,185 votes, Ruto’s had 611, 475 indicating his tours and alliances yielded fruits.
In the entire region, however, the Kenya Kwanza had only one governor-Ken Lusaka.
