- The President is expected in Homa Bay on Friday.
- He will then retreat to Kisumu before visiting Siaya on Saturday.
Image: HANDOUT
President William Ruto is from Friday expected to start an extensive tour of Luo Nyanza counties, the first-ever development visit since his inauguration.
This as ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo stepped up ground work ahead of Ruto's tour.
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.
Sources within the Presidency confirmed to the Star that Ruto will be the chief guest in Owalo's thanksgiving fete in Siaya County.
The event will be held in Gangu village Asembo, Rarienda Constituency starting 9am on Saturday.
“The God be the glory, great things he hath done,”Owalo quoted Fanny Crossby in his invitation cards sent to dignitaries expected to grace the ceremony.
This will be Ruto's second visit to Luo Nyanza as president but the first development tour since his election.
The region is perceived to be the opposition chief Raila Odinga's political bastion.
After his inauguration, Ruto made a trip to Homa Bay County where he attended a thanksgiving church service at the local African Inland Church.
Thereafter, he addressed roadside rallies within Homa Bay town even as local elected leaders gave the visit a wide berth.
The President is expected to use his visit to spell out his development agenda for Luo Nyanza counties-Homa Bay, Siaya, Migori and Kisumu.
Raila, the Luo nation kingpin, has previously argued that Nyanza is not seeking favours from the government but fair opportunites like other regions.
In a bid to prepare the ground for Ruto's visit to Raila's Siaya turf, Owalo on Tuesday held talks with a section of Luo leaders supporting the Kenya Kwanza government.
In the meeting were former nominated senator Rose Nyamunga, ex-Kisumu governor Jack Ranguma, former Nyatike MP Omondi Anyanga, ex-Kaspul MP Silvance Osele, among others.
Also in attendance was former Kisumu senator Fred Outa and lawyer Miguna Miguna.
On Wednesday Owalo will attend the 101st anniversary commemoration of his grandfather Johana Owalo at the Nomiya church headquarters at Oboch, Asembo.
Johana who died in 1921, was the founder of the Nomiya Church.
Owalo's father, the late Gideon Charles Owalo, was the Archbishop of the church.