Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo has stated that President William Ruto’s Ukambani developmental tour was filled with people who were not residents of the areas he visited.

Speaking during an interview on local TV on Thursday, November 13, 2025, Maanzo explained that most of the attendees were ferried from other areas and did not come from the specific locations where the President made stopovers.

In Emali, he noted, as soon as the President left, locals began shouting, blocking the road, and were dispersed by tear gas and bullets.

He added that the heckling and road blockages were not widely reported, as journalists typically leave with the President, and the authorities control what information gets out.

“Most of the people are ferried. They don’t come from that area where he was in Wote. They are ferried. In fact, in eMali, as soon as he left, the people started shouting, “Wantam blocked the road,” and they were dispersed by tear gas and bullets,” Maanzo said

Also watch: Ruto ends first day of Ukambani tour with Ksh24.92B in new promises.

These remarks came on the first day of President Ruto’s developmental tour in the Ukambani region, which was also attended by leaders aligned with Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, like Dan Maanzo.

Maanzo’s speech during the rally

Speaking during the event, Maanzo revealed details of his meeting with the president before he could begin the tours around the county

While speaking in Makueni on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, the senator, who is an ally of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and has been critical of the state, stated that he finally found answers to what had been disturbing him.

He mentioned that he had been having a hard time engaging with Cabinet Secretaries, but according to Maanzo, the President answered all the questions he had been asking.

Dan Maanzo stated that he held talks with the President, where he welcomed him to the county together with Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. The President, according to Maanzo, outlined his development roadmap for Makueni County, which includes the completion of all stalled projects, such as the Thwake Dam and Makueni Stadium, among others.

“Leo pale kwa affordable housing tumeangaliana macho kwa macho na rais, nikauliza ile maswali, nimekuwa nimeshinda nikiuliza mawaziri yake akaniambia thwake dam sawa, hata Waziri Duale mtamona hapa, ndio tutatuwe shida za watu wetu,” Maanzo said.