President William Ruto is set to return to the Western region for a development tour months after his much-maligned trip to the region in January 2025.

The president confirmed an itinerary for Kakamega County on Sunday, June 15, 2025, during a church service at Friends’ Comprehensive School in Lugari, Kakamega County. His declaration comes months after his week-long visit to the region, which was castigated by a section of the MPs from the opposition and the broader western region.

Ruto announced he will personally commission various development projects, ranging from road infrastructure to the electrification of houses. 

“I will be here in the next month or in August. I have a few things you requested. You requested something to do with roads, but our budget was not adequately planned.

“The budget was not, but this time I ensured the budget of the people of Kakamega is well planned. We have up to six new roads here in Kakamega to start them and others that stalled to help ease transportation and our economy and help Kakamega move forward,” he stated.

The president has further revealed that electrification projects will take precedence on the tour.

“Kakamega lagged behind in projects of electrification. We have to tell the truth. I have made an affirmative action to see this region get Ksh3 billion and get 35,000 houses connected with electricity. I will come to see the work start next month,” the president pledged. 

During his last tour of the region in January 2025, the president came under a fierce storm, with critics faulting the entire tour as politically guised and one that brought meaningless development to the region.

Among those critical of the visit was his erstwhile deputy Rigathi Gachagua, who faulted the president for a whole development tour as a gimmick.

The politician chided Ruto for doing little meaningful work to benefit the people of the region.

“The president and his team went there for a development tour, yet Rigathi Gachagua has become the centrepiece of that tour. Instead of discussing roads, they are discussing Rigathi Gachagua. Instead of addressing water and sugarcane farming, they are busy discussing Rigathi Gachagua,” he remarked.

Eugene Wamalwa also slammed the President’s tour, calling it a desperate move after losing his once-stronghold, the Mt Kenya region.

Wamalwa also warned that Ruto was dragging his feet then, over the reconstitution of IEBC.

“There are many reasons why William Ruto has been hesitant to constitute the IEBC. Saa hii kukiwa na by election anywhere hata akae huko Western, siku ngapi. Wamekaa sita hata warudi mara sitini. Tuko tunajipanga. Waliambiwa wasiguse mlima waagusa mlima. Huu mlima umetereza saa hii wametoroka nawaonea Mt Elgon,” he said.