President William Ruto has assured Mt Kenya residents that the robbery and hooliganism incidents witnessed during his Nairobi tour will not happen during his tour of the region.
Speaking to the media at Sagana State Lodge, Ruto acknowledged that such incidents had marred his development tour of Nairobi in the recent past, but said people in the region are peaceful people who understand the need for development.
"We held a lot of meetings in Nairobi, there were incidents of robbery here and there, because you know how things are in Nairobi," Ruto said.
The President said the tour of the region is purely for development and not political.
"I don't expect robbery and theft incidents to happen during my tours because Mt Kenya people are peaceful people, they understand development. We have not come here to engage in politics, we are here to engage with locals about their development agenda and see how we can move forward."
This was after a series of incidents that dogged the city tour in the in mid-March..
Some motorists and pedestrians were attacked and robbed by goons who took advantage of the tour.
During the tours, some city residents were attacked and robbed by goons acting with impunity.
Police allege the goons are mobilised by politicians to accompany an ongoing presidential tour of Nairobi.
Ruto arrived at Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri County Monday to begin a five-day development tour of Central Kenya.
The President was warmly received by a host of local leaders, including Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi, Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga, Laikipa East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wa.
He begins the tour with a live TV interview on Monday with stations from the region.
He will visit nine counties namely Nyeri, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Embu, Nyandarua, Laikipia, Tharaka-Nithi, Meru, and Murang’a.
He will be accompanied by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, local governors, and other leaders.
The President's tour will be centred on roads, electricity, water, and health projects in the region.
During the visit, he will launch new projects, inspect ongoing ones, and commission completed ones.
Recently, President Ruto said the government has released funds to complete stalled road projects around the country, among them the Mau Mau road that cuts across the Mt Kenya counties.
On Tuesday, he will be in Rumuruti, in Laikipia West Constituency, Nanyuki (Laikipia East), and Narumoru in Kieni Constituency. On Wednesday, he will tour Meru and Kirinyaga counties.
