On the radar: Ruto, Kindiki continue with tour of Western region

President William Ruto and his deputy Kithure Kindiki are set to continue with their week-long tour in the Western region.

They are expected to inspect, commission projects, and address residents in at least three counties including Vihiga, Busia and Kakamega.

In Busia County, Ruto will launch the Lower Nzoia Water project.

They will also tour the Luanda Market in Vihiga County to assess the progress made in the construction of the facility.

Ruto and Kindiki will return to Kakamega County where he will visit the Hon Aseka Hospital.

On Tuesday, the President chaired a cabinet meeting at Kakamega State Lodge while on Monday he handed over a Sh150 million bonus to sugar cane farmers allied to Mumias Sugar.

The bonus was the first ever in the country’s history, signalling a rebirth of the sugarcane sector which is Western Kenya’s economic mainstay.

This is President Ruto’s most significant tour of the region after his UDA party merged with Musalia Mudavadi’s-linked ANC party.

During the launch of the bonus on Monday, there were mixed reactions among Western Kenya leaders following the merger.

However, the majority of the leaders affirmed their commitment to work with the President under the new arrangement for the sake of development and national unity.

Social media influencer Francis Gaitho to appear in court

Social media influencer Francis Gaitho is expected to appear in court on Wednesday where he is facing charges of publishing false information.

Gaitho was charged in 2024, after allegedly publishing claims that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations had arrested the wrong person as the prime suspect in the Kware killings.

He was accused that on July 15, 2024, at around 1400 hours while at an unknown place using his X social media account, he intentionally published false information.

The prosecution alleged that Gaitho wrote the information with the intent that the data would be considered or acted upon as authentic.

He faced a second count of publishing false information on an innocent Kenyan over the Kware killings when he knowingly or ought to have known that such publication would cause the person's apprehension and violence to him, damage or loss of his property.

He denied the charges before Milimani senior principal magistrate Robinson Ondieki who released him on a cash bail of Sh30,000.