President William Ruto will early next month return to Nyanza after what appears to be shifting political focus following decline in support from his Mt Kenya bastion.
Ruto has been to the Western region a record five times in the last two weeks, confirming his determination to broaden his chances ahead of the 2027 elections.
The President will be in the lakeside city on February 7, for the Nyanza International Economic conference - weeks after literally camping in the region in December.
He will be the key guest at the conference, which was called off last year following nationwide youth-led protests, to avert threats of a possible storming of the venue by protestors.
The conference, to be officially closed by opposition leader Raila Odinga, will bring the who-is-who from the region as well as professionals and both local and international investors.
All elected leaders from the region including governors, MPs and MCAs are also expected.
The conference is co-convened by Deputy Chief of Staff Eliud Owalo and Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba.
“We have reached out to His Excellency the President who has agreed to be the chief guest. We have also reached out to the former Prime Minister to close the investment conference on February 8. We have also reached out to all MPs from Nyanza,” Owalo told the Star on Tuesday.
He described the upcoming event as a game-changer in the economic prospects of the region.
“Development within our counties has largely been driven by government on one hand and county government on the other but we cannot leave development in the hands of two levels of government alone,” Owalo said.
The summit is themed economic transformation for socio-economic growth and development.
“We have got a critical mass of professionals from Nyanza who have a large network locally and interna tionally and they also have their own resources and that is why we found it imperative to reach out to these professionals so that they come in as agents of necessities to help us fill the void of the development gap,” he said.
“At the tail end we believe we should be able to lock up certain investors for investment opportunities in the region.”
The conference is organised by Nyanza Professionals Forum chaired by Japh Olende, deputised by Mike Monari, with Owalo and Ogamba as co-patrons.
It was initially scheduled for July 28 and 29 last year.
Kisumu was one of the regions that experienced chaos as youth in their thousands took to the streets to demonstrate against the Finance Bill, 2024.
The protests were largely characterised by chants calling for the resignation of the President.
Ruto and opposition chief Raila Odinga have so far struck a political deal that cooled off political temperatures.
The President formed a broadbased government incorporating five of Raila’s allies into his Cabinet.
The five are John Mbadi (Treasury), Hassan Joho (Mining), Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum) and Beatrice Askul (EAC, Asal and Regional Development).
