President William Ruto does a jig when he met grassroots leaders from Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui counties at State House, Nairobi, May 21, 2025. /PCSThe Lower Eastern region of Kenya will not be discriminated against in national development, President William Ruto has assured.
The President reiterated that the region deserves its fair share of national resources just like the rest of the country.
Addressing a development caucus from the region at State House, Nairobi, on Wednesday, President Ruto said, "I will not allow Ukambani to be left behind. We shall move together as one nation."
President Ruto met over 1,500 professionals and grassroots leaders from the three Lower Eastern counties of Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui to discuss development issues.
Present were Catholic Bishop of Machakos, Norman King'oo Wambua, African Inland Church Presiding Bishop Abraham Mulwa, the Archbishop of the Africa Brotherhood Church, the Most Reverend Timothy Ndambuki.
On housing, he said that there are 166 units under construction in Kitui under the Affordable Housing Programme, 365 units in Wote, 900 in Makindu, and 5,000 in Mavoko. "Our housing program will change Kenya for good.
"It is so transformative that in the next 10 to 15 years we will have totally eradicated the problems of slums in our capital city, and Kenya at large," he said.
President Ruto said that despite housing being in manifestos of various political parties which have formed government over the years, lack of bold leadership has seen the project die on paper.
"A nation cannot be developed by making convenient political decisions. I will see through this housing program, whatever the consequences might be," he said.
The President said that there are more than 150,000 units under construction countrywide, employing more than 200,000 youth.
On electricity, President Ruto said the government has allocated Sh5.6 billion to connect electricity to over 60,000 households to electricity in the three counties during this financial year.
He said the government has allocated Sh1.5 billion to compensate people whose lands were compulsorily acquired by the government for the construction of the Kibwezi-Kitui road.
Furthermore, he said that the government has processed 40,000 title deeds to the region's residents and would be handing them over to the beneficiaries soon.
President Ruto said that the government has allocated an extra Sh6 billion for the completion of the Thwake Multipurpose Dam, which will address the water needs of residents of the three counties.
Furthermore, he said the government has distributed 6,000 tons of cotton seeds to farmers in the three counties, as the government seeks to revive the sector.
President Ruto urged Ukambani leaders to encourage their people to register with the Social Health Authority, noting that enrollment into the public medical scheme in the region is still low.
The President said registration in Machakos stands at 35 per cent of the county's total population, 28 per cent in Makueni and 22 per cent in Kitui.
"Do not buy the falsehoods being peddled in the media by politicians that SHA is not working. It is working," he said.
To address drug shortages in public facilities, President Ruto said a portion of SHA contributions will be going directly to the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa) to purchase drugs.
To increase efficiency, he said that Kemsa will be delivering drugs directly to public hospitals as opposed to being distributed from the county headquarters, which has been blamed for delays.
President Ruto thanked SHA contributors saying that "they are making a difference doing God's work."
Later in the year, President Ruto said he will commission a Sh40 billion clinker manufacturing plant in Kitui county.
Present at the event were Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, National Security Adviser Monica Juma, National chairperson of Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Rahab Mwikali Muiu, Principal Secretaries, MPs, and MCAs.
Others were Speaker of Kitui County County Assembly Kevin Katisya and his Machakos counterpart Ann Kiusya, and former Assistant Minister David Musila.
