President William
Ruto has intensified meetings with regional leaders as he moves to consolidate the
country and forge unity.
The President has been holding meetings with political leaders from various regions as part of his efforts to unite the country following the ouster of his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua.
The meetings are also seen as part of his strategy to get the feeling of Kenyans on his policies while also giving him an opportunity to lobby for support of his programmes.
The President is expected to continue holding meetings with more leaders from regions across the country to shore up support for his broad-based government.
Over the last few days, President Ruto has held meetings with politicians from Nairobi, Samburu and Turkana counties at State House, Nairobi.
Through his X account, President Ruto said the meetings were discussing the government’s development agenda as promised to Kenyans under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
“We discussed affordable housing, fresh produce markets, ICT hubs, electricity connectivity, water and irrigation projects in their respective counties and constituencies,’’ President Ruto said.
President Ruto insisted that the transformation of the country is underway and that the economy has stabilised and food production significantly increased.
“The cost of living has substantially reduced and the entire Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda is on course,’’ he added.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale who attended the meeting of Kakamega County politicians said on his X account that President Ruto hosted them to “ a four-hour working session at State House.’’
“We held serious discussions on matters development in our county,’’ Khalwale wrote on his page.
The meetings also come at a time when the president is expected to make radical changes to his government including naming new faces into his Cabinet and reorganising Principal Secretaries.
President Ruto is also likely to reorganise Parliament with MPs allied to the former prime minister’s ODM party expected to be named as chairpersons of key committees of the bicameral house.
Those targeted in the grand housecleaning in the coming days include committee chairs and vice-chairpersons who have defied party positions in the House.
Gachagua’s
allies are likely to be shown the door in the impending changes in Parliament
as President Ruto moves to consolidate the House leadership to propel his agenda.
On Wednesday, leaders from Kisii and Nyamira counties held a meeting at a Nairobi Hotel in what was seen as a preparatory session for talks with the President in the coming days.
There are reports that the leaders could meet Deputy President Kithure Kindiki next week as the Kenya Kwanza administration intensifies consultations with elected leaders.
President Ruto is next week expected to address a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the Senate to update the country on the performance of his administration in the last year.
He will hold the State of the Nation Address on November 21.
