Ruto Pitches Development, Unity Ahead of 2027 Election

By Staff Writer

President William Ruto has framed the 2027 General Election as a contest over national unity, inclusivity and equitable distribution of resources as he continued his development tour of Nyanza.

Speaking in Migori County on Wednesday, the President said the election would give Kenyans an opportunity to reject marginalization, tribalism and divisive politics in favor of a more inclusive approach to national development.

The remarks came on the fourth day of his development tour of Nyanza, where he used a series of project launches and inspections to highlight his administration’s investments in roads, electricity, housing, education and agriculture.

Ruto urged residents to support the Government’s development agenda, arguing that projects should be implemented across the country without regard to political or ethnic affiliations.

“The Broad-Based Government is ensuring that development is implemented in all parts of the country. No part of Kenya is being discriminated against or marginalized in development,” the President stated.

The President said the broad-based arrangement involving the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Kenya Kwanza was intended to bring communities together and move the country away from what he described as politics of discrimination, hatred and exclusion.

“The 2027 General Election will be a vote to do away with discrimination, tribalism and hatred among Kenya’s communities. It will be about inclusivity, unity and against marginalization,” he said.

The President’s remarks came as his Nyanza tour combined the commissioning of infrastructure projects with political messaging ahead of the 2027 election. The tour has taken him through Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay and Migori, with roads, electricity, housing, water and other development projects featuring prominently on his itinerary.

In Migori, Ruto pointed to the scale of infrastructure investment as evidence of his administration’s development agenda.

Earlier, he launched construction of the 32-kilometre Kanyawanga-Kwoyo-Madiaba-Dede-Odongo Oher-Rapogi-Awendo road in Awendo Constituency.

The Sh2.25 billion project is expected to improve connectivity, ease movement and expand access to markets and essential services.

“Before 2022, the budget for roads in Migori County was less than KSh2 billion. Today, we have increased it to KSh19 billion and are building 320km of new roads,” he said.

Ruto also said 82,000 households had been connected to electricity in Migori over the past three years, taking electricity coverage to 82 per cent of residents.

He said the Government had allocated Sh2.3 billion in the current financial year to connect another 21,000 homes.

“Between 2023 and 2027, our plan to connect 100,000 homes in Migori County, under the Rural Electrification Program, is well underway,” he said.

The President further said Sh28 billion had been invested in 8,000 affordable housing units, 19 modern markets and student hostels with a combined capacity of 8,000 university, technical college and Kenya Medical Training College students in Migori County.

On agriculture, Ruto highlighted efforts to revive the sugar industry, saying Sony Sugar Company had been restored while farmers and workers were being paid on time.

“As a key sugar-producing county, Migori, like other counties in Western and Nyanza regions, continues to benefit from our reforms in the sector,” he said.

He added: “Next month, sugarcane farmers in the county will, for the first time, receive a bonus.”

However, the development tour also provided a platform for Ruto to intensify his criticism of his political opponents.

Speaking in Migori town, the final stop of his tour of the county, he accused his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta of sponsoring opposition figures to undermine his administration.

The President described some of his opponents as “puppets” and “people on hire”, alleging that they were being used to oppose Government projects.

Ruto said “the sponsor” had failed to deliver on roads, universal healthcare, housing and education while in office and was now using critics to oppose programs being implemented by his administration.

“Now you know that the sponsor paid these people and directed them: ‘Go and oppose Ruto, oppose housing because housing defeated me; go and oppose affordable housing because it defeated me,'” he stated.

He said his competitors lacked a clear development agenda.

“We are competing with a bunch of people either engaging in personality cults or ethnic inclination with no plan or agenda except titles or long careers with no development record,” the President said.

Later, Ruto inspected the ongoing construction of the 20-kilometre Stella-Sibuoche-Gogo Falls road in Uriri Constituency and unveiled the county’s Last Mile Electricity Connectivity Project.

He said the Sh1.63 billion road project was part of a wider infrastructure upgrade intended to unlock Migori’s economic potential, particularly in trade and agriculture.

The President also commissioned the 28-kilometre 132kV Awendo-Masaba Transmission Line and the 132/33kV Masaba Sub-Station in Kuria West Constituency.

The Sh1.4 billion project is expected to strengthen electricity supply in Kehancha, Migori, Isebania and surrounding areas by increasing power transfer capacity, shortening distribution lines and reducing outages.

“The reliable power is now supporting industries, including Sony Sugar Factory and Getonyanya Sweet Potatoes Factory, better, has also improved service delivery at Migori County Referral Hospital, and strengthened operations at the Isebania One-Stop Border Post,” he said.

Ruto also unveiled the Kuria West Last Mile Electricity Connectivity Project and launched phase one of the Nyarobiro-Kombe-Masaba-Nyangubo-Getonganya-Ikerege-Taranganya road.

In Migori town, he launched construction of the 32-kilometre Posta-Nyirongi-Osiri road in Suna East Constituency.

The projects formed part of a wider development programme that has been central to the President’s Nyanza tour. During the tour, Ruto has highlighted large-scale investments in roads, electricity, housing, water and other infrastructure, while also linking the spending to his broader argument that national resources should benefit all regions.

Cabinet Secretaries Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), John Mbadi (National Treasury) and Davis Chirchir (Roads and Transport) accompanied the President, alongside Governors Ochilo Ayacko (Migori), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) and Simba Arati (Kisii).

National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed and several MPs were also present.

Mbadi challenged politicians seeking the presidency in 2027 to move beyond slogans and explain how they would address Kenya’s economic and social challenges.

He urged voters to scrutinize presidential hopefuls, particularly their plans for tackling the country’s challenges.

Wanga said some leaders were opposed to Ruto because of his national unity agenda and efforts to ensure that development reaches all parts of the country.

“The Broad-Based Government has taken development to every corner of kenya. That’s why some people, who had marginalized other areas in the past, are now angry at President Ruto,” Ms Wanga said.

Arati and Ayacko commended Ruto for what they described as equitable distribution of resources across the country regardless of political or ethnic background.

“ODM and UDA are working together under the broad-based arrangement to support the re-election of President William Ruto in 2027 for unity and prosperity of our country,” Mr Arati stated.

Junet said mistrust and divisions were weakening the opposition, arguing that opposition leaders lacked an agenda for the country.

“Some leaders are against the leadership of President Ruto because he is uniting Kenyans and fighting tribalism and discrimination,” said Mr Junet.

Suna West MP Francis Masara said President Ruto was the most consequential President Kenya has ever had, arguing that he had fulfilled the manifesto he presented to Kenyans in 2022.