Over the last two months, President William Ruto has made whistle-stop tours in at least 30 counties, launching and inspecting development projects and addressing rallies, raising questions over whether the tours have anything to do with the 2027 elections.

The latest was his visit to Meru yesterday.

Ruto’s handlers insist that the activities are purely meant for development and explaining his achievements to the people.

But his critics say the President is actually campaigning.

Interestingly, the President appears keen to endear himself to regions that sparingly voted for him in last year’s elections.

Between July 1 and August 31, Ruto toured Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia, Nyamira, Kisii, Baringo, Nakuru, Narok, Kiambu, Uasin Gishu, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Murang’a, Machakos, Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River, Lamu, Nairobi, Isiolo, Meru, Taita Taveta, Kericho, Homa Bay, Kajiado, Tharaka Nithi, Kitui, Elgeyo Marakwet and Makueni counties.

He also visited Vihiga, Nakuru, Kisii, Narok, Kajiado, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Machakos and Mombasa at least two times over the same period.

On Saturday, Ruto embarked on a whirlwind tour of Nyeri, beginning with the opening of a UDA office at Ruring’u and the launch of the construction of Bunguret-Muriru Road in Kieni.

He later addressed residents at Bunguret shopping centre before gracing the thanksgiving service for Energy and Petroleum Principal Secretary Alex Wachira.

Yesterday, he was in Meru where he attended a church service at Laare, Igembe North, before addressing road side rallies.

Sources told People Daily that the President is this week scheduled to tour some parts of Ukambani.

“The President is using these tours to feel the pulse of the nation… get to know their challenges and their thinking about the government. He has been out there to explain to the people what he is doing and the direction he wants the country to take,” says political analyst Javan Bigambo.

Trump style

But Azimio leaders accuse Ruto of using State resources to campaign instead of focusing on service delivery.

“It is unfortunate we don’t have a president but a campaigner. This is the first time we are having a President, barely a year into office, on a campaign trail. Kibaki, Moi and even the Kenyattas never did that,” says Saboti MP Caleb Amisi.

Analysts are comparing Ruto’s tours to similar activities when he was Deputy President when he crisscrossed the country donating millions of shillings to churches and launching projects.

“It is this early vigorous campaign that catapulted him to the most powerful seat in Kenya and this is what he is trying to repeat ahead of 2027,” says Bigambo.

But Prof Gitile Naituli of the MultiMedia University accuses Ruto of inculcating a culture of continuous campaigns.

“As the country’s chief executive, he should give us the signal that electioneering ended last year and it is now for people to settle down and work,” says Naituli.

He says the President is taking his “tours too far”.

“Why should the President issue title deeds or launch a water project? He should leave such assignments to his juniors,” says Naituli.

Another political analyst, Mark Bichachi, says the President has been making forays in opposition strongholds as “a political insurance” so that in case Mt Kenya revolts against him in 2027, he will have already built alternative footholds.

“He knows very well that he cannot sit pretty relying on the Mt Kenya vote the same way he did in 2022 and so he wants to endear himself to areas such as Western, Ukambani and Coast so that in the event of Central bolting out, he is safe,” says Bichachi.

Raila’s reacts

Bichachi says Ruto seems to have borrowed a leaf from former US President Donald Trump who spent all his four years in office on the campaign trail.

The President’s visits have propelled Opposition leader Raila Odinga into motion. Ruto’s main rival in last year’s elections has been making several forays in his strongholds, seemingly to counter Ruto.

Yesterday, Raila was in Kisii, where he began with a roadside meet and greet-the-people tour at Magena market, attended a Sunday service at Ichuni Parish in Bomachoge/Borabu and later presided over a funds drive at Ombena Mixed Boarding Primary School.

Later, Raila addressed crowds at Kenyenya Township and various stopovers in the county. The previous day, Raila was in Migori.