NYANZA, Kenya — President William Ruto has begun a five-day development tour of the Luo Nyanza region, where he is set to inspect a series of multi-billion-shilling infrastructure projects while working to shore up political support in a region long regarded as the stronghold of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
The visit comes as Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration and ODM’s leadership continue talks over a pre-election pact ahead of the 2027 General Election, and is widely viewed by political observers as an effort to win over voters in a region that has historically backed ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Kisumu: Roads, water and a new airport tower
According to his itinerary, Ruto is due to hold a closed-door meeting on Monday with roughly 10,000 people drawn from Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay and Migori counties, alongside elected leaders from the region.
Earlier in the day, he is expected to inspect the Ksh16.7 billion, 63-kilometre Mamboleo Junction-Miwani-Chemelil-Muhoroni-Kipsitet Highway, most sections of which have already been tarmacked, as well as the Ksh1.1 billion Rabuor-Chiga road in Nyando constituency, intended to ease congestion along the busy Ahero-Kisumu road by giving motorists an alternative route.
The President is also set to commission the Ksh7.5 billion Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Project, jointly funded by the Government of Kenya and the European Union to improve clean water and sewer connectivity in Kisumu amid a growing population.
Other planned stops include the commissioning of the Kisumu West sub-county police headquarters at Otonglo along the Kisumu-Busia road, and the newly built Ksh314 million Kisumu International Airport control tower, an eight-storey facility equipped with advanced ICT, surveillance and communication systems.
Ruto is then expected to hold a meet-the-people tour in Kisumu’s Jua Kali area, where his political outreach ahead of the 2027 election, and the coalition talks with ODM, are expected to feature prominently.
The President is being accompanied on the tour by several Cabinet Secretaries, including Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, along with Principal Secretaries led by Interior PS Dr Raymond Omollo.
Also present are Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, who is hosting the tour, Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko, and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, who also serves as ODM’s National Chairperson.
Siaya, Migori and Homa Bay on the itinerary
On Tuesday, Ruto is scheduled to visit Siaya County, where he will inspect ongoing works on the Dhogoye Bridge project in Usenge, Bondo constituency, before touring Ugenya, Rarieda and Alego Usonga constituencies.
Planned commissionings include the ongoing construction of Siaya Stadium, being undertaken by the Ministry of Defence, ahead of a rally at Ahindi Gardens in Siaya town.
The President will then proceed to Migori County on Wednesday, where he is expected to inspect the Stella-Sibuoche-Gogo road in Uriri constituency and the Kanyawanga-Kwoyo-Madiaba road in Awendo constituency, before touring Kuria West and Suna East constituencies to review further national government projects.
The tour is scheduled to conclude in Homa Bay County on Thursday, 17 September, where the government has invested heavily in a number of projects, most of which have reportedly been completed.
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Planned stops include Economic Stimulus Programme markets in Misambi, Kabondo Kasipul constituency; Kendu Bay in Karachuonyo constituency; and Kijabe in Suba South constituency, as well as the Sindo KMTC access road, town roads in Suba South constituency, and the Junction-Kodiyo-Pier road in Homa Bay Town constituency.
A politically significant visit
The tour follows a pattern of previous presidential visits to Nyanza, a region that has traditionally leaned toward ODM and its founding leader, the late Raila Odinga.
Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government has, since forming a broad-based administration incorporating ODM figures, made repeated visits to the region to launch infrastructure projects, a strategy his allies frame as delivering development and his critics have characterised as an effort to make political inroads into what has long been considered opposition territory.
With the 2027 election drawing closer, this week’s tour is expected to carry particular political weight, as Kenya Kwanza and ODM leadership work to persuade supporters in the region of the merits of their evolving political alliance.
