- The visit is loaded with political significance as it comes in the wake of a newfound relationship between the two former political arch-rivals.
- Ruto and Raila have struck a political deal that saw the opposition boss release his top lieutenants to join the Cabinet
Image: SCREENGRAB
President William Ruto is set to launch key development projects as he begins a four-day tour of opposition chief Raila Odinga’s Nyanza turf.
The visit is loaded with political significance as it comes in the wake of a newfound relationship between the two former political arch-rivals.
Ruto and Raila have struck a political deal that saw the opposition boss release his top lieutenants to join the Cabinet.
They include Treasury CS John Mbadi who is the former ODM chairman, and Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi who was the National Assembly Minority leader.
Mbadi and Wandayi come from Nyanza.
Ruto also picked former ODM deputy party leaders; Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya as Mining and Cooperatives CSs, respectively.
Pundits say the President is keen to leverage the appointments and new friendship to widen his political bases ahead of the 2027 polls.
Ahead of the visit that starts on Wednesday, Interior PS Raymond Omollo on Monday hosted all Luo MPs to agree on priority projects for the region and to ensure the success of the tour.
“We met and agreed on the key projects that we want the President and the government to do for the region,” Suba South MP Caroli Omondi said.
Besides the constituency-based projects and programmes, the leaders agreed on three major projects that they would front to the President for actualisation.
They are the construction of the Lake Victoria Ring-Road, the elevation of Russia Hospital to Level 6 and the hiring of at least 2,800 teachers to bridge the tutors’ gap in the four counties.
They are Migori, Kisumu, Siaya and Homa Bay.
“It was also agreed that the meeting be done in harmony, and leaders be united for the benefit of the region,” Omondi said.
He added, “The meeting also agreed that elected leaders support those from the region who are in government.”
According to the President’s itinerary seen by the Star, the head of state begins his tours in Migori county where he will launch several projects.
He will launch the Kegonga Cluster water project, Lower Kuja Irrigation project and inspect the construction of Ngere-Mapera road on the first day of the visit.
On Thursday, Ruto will visit Homa Bay county where he is set to commission the Oyugis water project, before inspecting the Homa Bay fish market.
He will then launch the Rusinga Ring road.
Later, he will attend the thanksgiving ceremony of National Treasury CS John Mbadi.
On Friday, Ruto will land in Siaya county where he will commission the Mageta Island solar project in Bondo, Raila’s home constituency.
He will then proceed to Alego Usonga where he will launch the Siaya economic stimulus programme market.
While still in Siaya, the head of state will also launch the Siaya rice mill project. Later in the day he will attend the thanksgiving service of Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi in Ugunja.
President Ruto will wind up his tour of Raila’s backyard on Saturday where he has several activities lined up in Kisumu county.
They include the commissioning of the Kisumu Marine School within the port area.
He will then proceed to Kisumu East constituency where he will visit the Lake Basin Development Authority rice mill at Kibos.
Later, he will visit the Lumumba affordable housing project before winding up the Nyanza tour with a visit to Nyakach constituency to launch the Nyabondo Trauma Centre.