WAIKENDA: Ruto’s Mt Kenya tour key to development

A hunter, not very bold, was searching for the tracks of a Lion. He asked a man felling oaks in the forest if he had seen any marks of his footsteps or knew where his lair was. "I will," said the man, "at once show you the Lion himself."

The hunter, turning very pale and chattering with his teeth from fear, replied, "No, thank you. I did not ask that; it is his track only I am in search of, not the Lion himself."

President William Ruto's development tour of Mt Kenya region has been met with mixed reactions. Some people have praised him for his efforts to improve the lives of the people in the region, while others have accused him of politicising development.

Ruto has been to several parts of Mt Kenya region in the past four days and has launched development projects. During the tour, which started on Saturday and ends tomorrow, he has met with local leaders and residents to discuss their needs.

It is important to note that this is the third regional working tour that he is undertaking after Nyanza and Coast in the month of July. while the tours have been viewed through a political lens, it is worth noting that they are important to ensure that his government is felt in every corner of the country.

Some of the projects that Ruto has launched include the construction of roads, bridges and hospitals. He has also distributed water tanks and solar panels to residents.

He started the tour by commissioning the Githurai water supply project, which will benefit 500,000 residents and connect 8,400 people to clean and safe water. He also commissioned the redevelopment of Githurai market, part of the President’s commitment to build 400 markets in three years to dignify Mama Mboga’s hustles.

In Kirinyaga county, he commissioned the Kagio water supply project in Kagio town and the upgrade of the 42.5km Marua-Kwa Wambui road.

The President launched the upgrading to bitumen standards and maintenance of the 45km Ichamara=Kariti road in Mukurweini, Nyeri county.

Still in Nyeri, he commissioned the Kaigonji water project and Othaya water project, which will benefit 60,000 people with 216 new sewer connections, and thereafter opened the Nyeri Stage and Bus Park.

Today he will chair a cabinet meeting at Sagana State Lodge. He will also open a new KCC facility in Kiganjo and host a regional leaders conference at the Sagana State Lodge.

He will end the tour tomorrow by opening a three-storeyed, 175-bed capacity level 4 hospital in Naromoru. He will later witness the groundbreaking of the Gichugu Affordable Housing Program in Kirinyaga County, which is part of the 200 units per constituency program. The project entails the construction of 140 housing units.

On his way back to the Capital, the President will preside over the groundbreaking of the housing project in Thika, Kiambu county, which will provide 975 units, with 20 per cent of the units reserved for civil servants.

The people of Mt Kenya have welcomed Ruto's development efforts. They say the projects will improve their lives and help to reduce poverty in the region.

However, some people have accused Ruto of politicising development. They say he is only launching projects in areas that are likely to vote for him in the next election.

Ruto has denied these accusations even though there is nothing wrong with him showing the residents what his government is doing so that he can get a second term.

He has shown that he is committed to developing all parts of the country, regardless of political affiliation. It is clear that he is serious about improving the lives of the people in Mt Kenya as well as the rest of the country.

President Ruto's development tour of Mt Kenya region is a positive step. It is important for the government to invest in development in all parts of the country, and Ruto is right to focus on Mt Kenya region, which has supported him since he was deputy president.