Ruto in rallying call for votes inweek-long tour of Western Kenya

President William Ruto has vowed to stick to his broad-based government agenda in spite of criticism and threats of a walkout from a section of political leaders.

President Ruto said he will not be pushed to abandon his pursuit for a government that is responsive to all Kenyans.

Speaking in Shinyalu after launching the fourth phase of the last-mile power connectivity programme for Kakamega county, Ruto said he is solely focused on delivering his development agenda.

In an indirect reference to former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, Ruto said a broad-based government unites the country beyond ethnic and regional enclaves. The president announced that the government had set aside Sh2.9 billion to connect power to 35,000 households across Kakamega county under the last-mile connectivity.

He also announced that the construction of the Kakamega -Shinyalu-Chepsonoi Kapsabet road that will begin this financial year.
Prime Cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Speaker Moses Wetangula, Cabinet Secretaries Wycliffe Oparanya and Opiyo Wandayi, Western MPs caucus secretary Bernard Shinali and a host of legislators accompanied the President.

Rallying masses

Leaders at the meeting turned the heat on Gachagua over his attacks on the government and declared Ruto as their preferred candidate in the 2027 general election.

Speaker Wetangula said the region will unite behind Ruto to maximise on development already realised. He said the country cannot afford the divisions propagated by a section of political leaders.

Oparanya said through the formation of a broad-based government, the president had ensured that all regions are equally represented.

“The recent reshuffle has ensured that the broad-based government is even broader. We thank the president and promise to rally the masses behind the president in 2027,” CS Oparanya said.