President William Ruto on Wednesday convened a high-profile meeting with political leaders from Western Kenya as part of his strategy to solidify his influence in the region following his cooperation deal with opposition leader Raila Odinga. The meeting, held at State House, brought together key regional leaders, signaling Ruto’s intent to consolidate support in an area that has traditionally backed Raila in previous elections.
Western Kenya has historically been a stronghold for Raila, with voters in Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, and Vihiga counties overwhelmingly supporting his presidential bids in 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022. However, with the recent political realignments, Ruto appears determined to court the region’s electorate ahead of the 2027 general election.
The meeting was attended by all governors from the region, including Fernandes Barasa (Kakamega), Paul Otuoma (Busia), Wilber Ottichilo (Vihiga), and Ken Lusaka (Bungoma). Additionally, top government officials such as Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula were present, underscoring the importance of the engagement.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), President Ruto emphasized the government’s commitment to regional development, stating, “We are engaging leaders from across the country to accelerate the implementation of our national development agenda, ensuring no region is left behind.”
The discussions focused on key priority projects under the national government, including strengthening agricultural value chains, increasing fertilizer uptake to boost food production, and reviving the sugar and coffee industries. The president also highlighted the urgency of improving infrastructure, power connections, fresh produce markets, universal health coverage, and access to clean water.
This meeting follows Ruto’s extensive development tour of Western Kenya, where he launched and commissioned several projects, including the disbursement of Sh150 million in dividends to Mumias Sugar farmers.
Ruto has been holding similar engagements across the country, including a recent meeting with Mount Kenya leaders on March 23. He is expected to visit the Mount Kenya region on April 1, marking his first tour there since August last year, as he continues his national political consolidation efforts.
