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Education Cabinet Secretary, Ezekiel Machogu and Governor Simba Arati have urged leaders and residents to uniteto host President William Ruto during his maiden visit to Kisii county on March 24 since he was elected in August last year.

Machogu, who contested for the governor’s seat through United Democratic Alliance ( UDA) Party and lost to Arati of ODM, urged the leaders to forget their political differences, unite and work together to benefit the Gusii community.

He said the president, who will grace his homecoming since he was appointed the Cabinet Secretary, will hold a leaders’ meeting with Kisii Members of Parliament and members of the county assembly.

The CS said roads, Suneka airstrip, Bonyunyu dam, a cancer centre and education would be top on the agenda, adding, he held a meeting with Nyamira governor, Amos Nyaribo and Arati and discussed the completion of the dam.

“Arati and I met President Ruto and discussed development. Let us speak with one voice. What is important is what you have done to people,” Machogu said.

Speaking at Gusii stadium during the launching of more than 100 scholarships by the governor for children from poor families, the CS said he is uniting the leaders, work and leave a rich legacy.

The governor, jointly with County Executive Committee Members and Chief Officers have rolled out the scholarships dubbed ‘Elimu na Simba) to benefit 500 learners from poor families who scored 350 marks and above in KCPE join secondary school.

“ I want to meet various Cabinet Secretaries so that they can help us complete development projects to benefit our people’ Machogu said at the Gusii stadium.

He told detractors to stop dividing the leaders for selfish political interest, stressing, politics was over and it was time for the elected leaders to serve the residents.

The governor said he is ready to host the President, stressing the county and the national government has to work together for development to realize at the grassroots.

“Ruto won and we are all planning to ensure that his visit is successful and dishes goodies to benefit our people” Arati said.

He lauded the Cabinet for passing Kenya UK Health Alliance Bill on Tuesday, saying Kisii University will be the hub for the health pillar ( centre of excellence) to benefit 14 counties in the Lake Region Economic Bloc ( LREB).

The counties to benefit include; Kisii, Nyamira, Bomet, Kakamega, Siaya, Migori, Bomet, Bungoma, Homabay, Kisumu, Vihiga, Nandi, Transzoia, Kericho and Busia. The region has 14 million residents.

The hub would have branches at Masinde Muliro university of Science and Technology, Maseno, Egerton and Bomet constituent College.