President William Ruto has reaffirmed his commitment to working with leaders and residents across the country regardless of their political affiliation, saying his administration is focused delivering development to every region.
Speaking during a church service at ACK St Martin's Cathedral in Kitui county on Sunday, the President said it remained his wish to work with everyone, although he acknowledged that some political leaders had chosen not to cooperate with his administration.
"It is my wish to work with everybody. Of course, you cannot force people to work with you, and that is their decision," Ruto said.
The President's visit to Kitui was politically significant as the county is regarded as the political backyard of Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, one of the government's most vocal critics and a leading figure in the opposition.
Ruto used the occasion to defend his decision to establish the broad-based government, saying it was intended to foster national unity and ensure that no region is left behind in development.
"I have made a commitment that we are going to work with everybody in Kenya and that is why I formed the broad-based government," he said.
He assured residents of Kitui and the wider Ukambani region
that they had a place in his administration despite the area's opposition
political leanings.
"I want to assure Kitui residents and Ukambani at large that this is your government. You have your place in it now and in the future. This is your government and I will work for you."
The President said his administration had deliberately ensured that Kitui and the entire Ukambani region remained central to the government's development agenda.
"The development we are spearheading across the country, I have made sure Kitui and Ukambani are central to it. We want to move together."
He urged Kenyans to reject divisive politics and ethnic mobilisation, saying the country's progress depends on unity.
"Do not allow people to divide us. Do not accept negative ethnicity. We are one people, one nation with a common destiny," he said.
Ruto also signalled that he would be making more frequent visits to the region, pledging not to abandon Ukambani.
"Get used to me because I will be coming more often. I will never let you go by all means. Ukambani has dragged behind for long. I will not let Ukambani remain behind when the country is moving forward," he said.
The President stressed that every Kenyan deserves equal access to development, noting that residents of Kitui contribute to the national economy through taxes just like citizens in other parts of the country.
"People in Kitui pay taxes like the rest of Kenyans. We must build in every part of Kenya," he said.
Ruto blamed years of divisive politics for slowing the country's development, arguing that national progress had suffered because leaders prioritised political competition over cooperation.
"We have had bad politics, which has hindered the country from moving ahead. That is why we are stuck behind as a country."
He said equitable development would only be achieved if leaders worked together across political and regional lines.
"If we work together, we will all succeed. No region will be more successful than the other."
The President's visit revived memories of his previous political exchanges with Kalonzo over infrastructure development in Kitui.
