- Kidero said it was important to demonstrate that the people of Homa Bay have outgrown tribal and sectarian political ideologies.
- He urged the President to consider funding and timely completion of several projects in the county
Image: ROBERT OMOLLO
Former Nairobi governor Evans Kidero has asked residents of Homa Bay to once again turn up in large numbers to receive President William Ruto in the county.
Kidero said the visit, which will be Ruto’s second as Head of State, will be of great significance to Homa Bay and the entire Nyanza region.
“We must tell the President that there is a complete change in thinking from the old traditional behaviour which portrayed the people of this region as irrational, hostile, and ungovernable,” he stated.
In a statement, Kidero regretted that the region has lagged behind in growth due to a lack of focused leadership and coordinated approaches to investments.
He also cited a lack of government involvement in the affairs of the region for the slow development.
“The people of Homa Bay and by extension the entire Nyanza Region moved on after the elections and even outsmarted their elected leaders by opening their hearts to embrace President Ruto and the government,” he stated.
President William Ruto is from Friday expected to start an extensive tour of Luo Nyanza counties, the first-ever development visit since his inauguration.
On Friday the President will be in Homa Bay County before retreating to Kisumu for talks with the region's political and opinion leaders.
Ruto will preside over the ground-breaking ceremony for the Affordable Housing programme in Homa Bay County.
He is also expected to commission Homa Bay municipal market.
On Saturday, Ruto will grace the homecoming ceremony of his ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo.
Kidero said the frequency of the visits by Ruto is a clear demonstration of the President’s love and affection for the Homa Bay people and his desire to incorporate them into his government.
“He first visited us almost immediately after his swearing-in last October even before he made it to his home County of Uasin Gishu. This is worth appreciating,” Kidero said.
He expressed appreciation that the people of Homa Bay came out in their numbers to receive the President despite the short notice when he last visited.
“It is important that we as a community appreciate the President’s kind gesture and join other Kenyans to work with the government for the sake of accelerated pace of developments,” Kidero urged.
That thousands of ecstatic residents thronged the streets of Homa Bay and the Church where the President had a function to interact with him.
He urged the President to consider funding and timely completion of several projects in the county.
He named the projects as Oluch-Kimira Small-Holder Irrigation Project, the hot springs at Homa Hills which have the potential for geothermal power generation, the deepening of Mbita Causeway and the development of Tom Mboya University with satellite campuses in various parts of the county.
“These developments are critical to the economic turn-around and will completely open the region for business,” he added.
Kidero further said the people of Homa Bay have always demonstrated maturity, high-level political tolerance, and hospitality by embracing and supporting government initiatives and other Kenyans who hold contrary opinions.
He added that it was important to demonstrate that the people of Homa Bay have outgrown tribal and sectarian political ideologies.