Ruto’s itinerary for 2-day tour of Western Kenya

President William Ruto touched down at the Kakamega airstrip on Thursday afternoon December 8, 2022, to begin his tour of the Western Kenya region.

Ruto was received at the Kakamega airstrip by the Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi among other leaders from the region.

President Willam Ruto arrives at Kakamega airstrip and received by Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi. pic.twitter.com/6RjJcF5sDG

— The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) December 8, 2022

The president proceeded to the Kakamega State Lodge in Lurambi Constituency for a closed-door meeting with leaders from the region.

A tentative program shows that the head of state will be in Kakamega on Friday to inspect various development projects.

He will also visit Kakamega county teaching and referral hospital.

On Saturday, Ruto is expected to preside over the Masinde Muliro University graduation ceremony.

Bolster support

Ruto’s extensive tour of Western counties is seen as a move aimed at bolstering his support in the region.

The president is expected to hold meet-the-people tours during his 2-day visit to the region.

Ruto’s tour comes after he met COTU secretary general Francis Atwoli and Kakamega Governor Fernandes Baraza who are both allied to the opposition Azimio la Umoja One Kenya alliance.

The president met Baraza and Atwoli at the State House in Nairobi on different dates.

The Kakamega governor confirmed he was ready to host Ruto in his county through a tweet.

“I was joined by the County Commissioner John Ondego, DG Savula and Likuyani MP Innocent Mugabe
at the Kakamega County Teaching & Referral Hospital ahead of the President’s visit to the facility tomorrow. All is set for the President’s two-day Kakamega visit,” Baraza tweeted on Wednesday.

I was joined by the County Commissioner – John Ondego, DG – Hon. @SavulaHon, and Likuyani MP – Hon. @InnocentMugabe at the Kakamega County Teaching & Referral Hospital ahead of the President’s visit to the facility tomorrow. All is set for the President’s two-day Kakamega visit. pic.twitter.com/i0t6fk998k

— H.E FCPA Fernandes Barasa, OGW (@BarasaFernandes) December 7, 2022

Ruto managed to erode Raila’s support in Western Kenya in the August 9, 2022, General Election after striking a deal with Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.

The President garnered 611, 475 votes against Raila Odinga’s 955,185 votes. Most of the region’s lawmakers are members of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.

The opposition coalition also managed to produce four governors in the Western Kenya region – Busia, Kakamega, Vihiga and Trans Nzoia. Bungoma is the only county that elected a Kenya Kwanza Coalition governor.

Ruto’s tour also comes at a time voters in Bungoma are going to the ballot to elect a new senator, a seat which fell vacant after Wetang’ula was elected as the Speaker of the National Assembly.