Ruto and Matiang’i in battle for Kisii votes

The visit, which will see the head of state traverse Kisii and Nyamira counties, comes amid heightened political activity in the region.

Matiang’i, widely seen as a possible presidential contender, is quietly consolidating support on the back of a united opposition outfit.

National Assembly Majority Whip Silvanus Osoro framed the President’s tour as a development mission.

“He intends to visit 11 out of the 13 Gusii constituencies in Gusii, hold several meetings with sectoral leaders, inspect ongoing projects, launch new ones, and commission those completed,” Osoro said.

A closer look at the official programme reveals a more structured and tightly packed itinerary. The activities will be largely concentrated in specific constituencies, with more on markets, electrification and road infrastructure.

On Sunday, the President will start the tour at Kisii Stadium in Nyaribari Chache constituency, where he is scheduled to preside over the groundbreaking of a Sh900 million modern stadium.

The event will be accompanied by a friendly match between Shabana FC and Murang’a Seal and the handing over of a team bus to the local club.

Osoro said the stadium event was a symbolic and celebratory Launchpad.

“We will watch our boys live do the thing they do best kwa pitch,’ he said.

The official schedule says the event will help blend political mobilisation with high-visibility development pledges.

On Monday, President Ruto is expected to begin his tour in Nyamira county, starting from North Mugirango with a series of engagements in Ikonge, Ekerenyo and Egetacho.

The President will lay foundation stones for ESP markets and flag off a rural electrification project.

The itinerary shows an hour-by-hour rollout of economic infrastructure projects, before crossing back into Kisii county for engagements in Kiabonyoru and later Nyaribari Masaba.

The President will also preside over multiple launches in Nyamira town, including a KMTC campus, a water supply project and a comprehensive school.

It is expected he’ll wrap up the day with stops in Ramasha, Masimba and Keroka.

The sequence suggests an attempt to maximise visibility across densely populated areas.

Tuesday’s programme continues in Kisii county, focusing on Kitutu Chache North and South as well as Nyaribari Chache.

Key activities include the groundbreaking of the Bobaracho–Manyasi–Tinga road, commissioning of the Kegogi ESP market and inspections of markets in Nyakoe.

Ruto will also preside over the launch of last-mile electricity connectivity projects and a water supply initiative covering Nyaribari Chache and Kitutu Masaba constituencies.

On the final day, Wednesday, the President is expected to cover Gucha, Bomachoge Chache, South Mugirango and Suneka-Bonchari.

The details of the referenced engagements are yet to be fully outlined in the official programme.

Ruto’s foray into the region comes at a time the Kisii vote, estimated at about 980,000 registered voters in the 2022 IEBC roll, is increasingly becoming a battleground.

Matiang’i, a native of the region, is leveraging his local roots and national profile to rally support.

He is working alongside opposition leaders, including Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

In their engagements with Kisii residents recently, the united opposition challenged the region’s voters to back them.

They argued that the region has been undervalued politically by successive regimes despite its voting strength.

For Gachagua and his compatriots, the Gusii vote, combined with Mt Kenya and parts of Western, would be decisive in determining the next president.

The emerging alliance is seen as a direct challenge to Ruto’s re-election bid by denying him a block vote from the Nyanza region.

This is particularly in light of the perceived erosion of support in the Mt Kenya region, which was instrumental in his 2022 victory.

Political analysts say the President is keen on consolidating gains in Nyanza, with Kisii forming a critical pillar.

The support of the Kisii vote is believed to be crucial in the arithmetic, and could position the head of state to net a chunk of the three million votes when combined with the Luo Nyanza.

As per the brief, development projects are central to the Kenya Kwanza strategy.

The Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) has already issued tender notices for upgrading key roads in the region to bitumen standards.

They include the Mokubo–Etago Road, Keroka–Ibacho–Kiamokama circuit, and the Magombo–Bondeni and Tombe–Isinta roads in Nyamira.

Residents say such projects could have a tangible impact on livelihoods.

“These projects mean fewer potholes, faster travel, and more money in the pockets of our local farmers and traders,” resident Thomas Abuga said.

Governor Simba Arati and other local leaders are expected to accompany the President during the tour, underscoring the importance of local political buy-in.

For years, the Gusii region was a perceived stronghold of the Oburu Oginga-led ODM party.

In the 2013, 2017, and 2022 elections, some pockets of the region voted for Jubilee, and most recently, UDA.