President William Ruto will embark on a two-day whirlwind tour of Migori County beginning May 4, marking the latest in a series of heightened visits to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s political strongholds.
In preparation for the visit, Ruto held a meeting on April 30 with political leaders from the county to lay the groundwork.
In August last year, Ruto conducted an extensive development tour across all Luo Nyanza counties — Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, and Siaya — as his political cooperation with Raila blossomed.
Luo Nyanza has since become one of Ruto’s notable support bases, following his alliance with Raila, which began with the former prime minister’s bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship.
This relationship was formalised in March when Raila’s ODM party signed a cooperation agreement with Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
The agreement signalled a possible collaboration between Ruto and Raila in the 2027 general election, with UDA and ODM expected to team up for Ruto’s reelection bid.
The president’s upcoming tour of Migori comes as the opposition works to forge an alliance to challenge his reelection, with former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i among the key figures preparing a presidential run for 2027.
Matiang’i will be traversing the Gusii region on May 2 as part of his own campaign groundwork.
During his Migori tour, President Ruto’s itinerary will include launching and commissioning several development projects, ranging from infrastructure to affordable housing and healthcare.
Among the key highlights are the Stella-Gogo-Sibuoche tarmac road and a 200-unit affordable housing project in Uriri Constituency.
These initiatives form part of the government’s broader strategy to demonstrate its commitment to equitable development across all regions, regardless of political affiliation.
Local MPs, including National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed and Uriri MP Mark Nyamita, have been actively involved in preparing for the visit, holding meetings to finalise the list of projects to be unveiled.
Between May 4 and 5, the president will tour Suna East, Suna West, Rongo, Uriri, and Awendo constituencies.
“We fully welcome the president, and we hope the visit will unlock key economic sectors in the county. As leaders from the region, we also want to make it clear that we are firmly behind President Ruto,” said Uriri MP Mark Nyamita.
Suna West MP Peter Masara added that the president will attend an interdenominational church service on May 4 at Kadika Primary School.
President Ruto’s growing focus on Nyanza and Western Kenya is seen as a strategic move to diversify his electoral base, particularly in light of potential shifts in support from the Mt. Kenya region, a critical voting bloc in his 2022 victory.
The visit follows a series of Ruto’s engagements in Nyanza, including a four-day tour last August.
by JAMES MBAKA
