President William Ruto is set to embark on a five-day working tour of Central Kenya starting Tuesday, marking his first visit to the region since August 2024.
This tour, spanning nine counties in the politically significant Mt. Kenya region, comes at a pivotal moment as he returns with a new Deputy President – Kithure Kindiki – following the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua, a native of the area.
The visit is a carefully calibrated mix of political outreach and developmental showcase, aimed at reinforcing support in a key stronghold from the last election – one that has shown signs of restlessness amid recent political shifts.
The itinerary, detailed in a State House dispatch, underscores the government’s “Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda.”
President Ruto will commission completed projects, inspect ongoing initiatives, and launch new ones across Laikipia, Nyeri, Meru, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua, Murang’a, Embu, Tharaka-Nithi, and Kiambu counties.
These projects span critical sectors: road infrastructure, affordable housing, fresh produce markets, last-mile electricity connectivity, water and irrigation systems, and livestock value chains. The messaging is clear—the administration is delivering tangible progress, even as it navigates a complex political landscape.
Development as a Political Tool
The Mt. Kenya region, a vote-rich area, has been a bedrock of Ruto’s electoral success, but the impeachment of Gachagua has stirred unease among local leaders and voters.
This tour appears designed to counter that narrative, showcasing a government in action. Among the highlights are the issuance of title deeds in Kieni (Nyeri) and Tigania West (Meru), a move likely to resonate with communities long awaiting land ownership clarity.
Similarly, the inspection of County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPS) in Laikipia West and Githunguri (Kiambu), alongside a Special Economic Zone in Maragua (Murang’a), signals a focus on economic empowerment through manufacturing and agricultural value addition.
The CAIPS initiative, a collaboration between national and county governments, involves constructing 47 parks nationwide at KSh500 million each, with funding split evenly between the two levels. Meanwhile, six new Special Economic Zones—including in Sagana, Thika, and Naivasha—aim to elevate this vision, targeting high-value sectors like pharmaceuticals.
These projects align with Ruto’s promise of a “hustler-friendly” economy, though their success will hinge on timely completion and private-sector uptake.
Beyond industrial ambitions, the tour emphasises infrastructure and social services.
In Nyandarua, Ruto will visit the stalled JM Memorial Hospital in Ol Kalou, pledging national support to complete it as the county’s first Level 5 facility.
Similar attention will be given to a Kenya Medical Training College in Kangema (Murang’a), alongside police housing in Chuka Igambang’ombe (Tharaka-Nithi) and student hostels at Tharaka University.
These efforts address pressing institutional needs, particularly in education and security, though critics may question whether they match the scale of demand.
Water and sanitation projects feature prominently, with stops planned in Igembe South (Meru), Maragua (Murang’a), and Mbeere North (Embu), as well as the Kiambere Bulk Water Project in Mbeere South (Embu).
The Mau Mau Road network, recently allocated KSh5 billion, will also be inspected in Lari (Kiambu), part of a broader effort to improve connectivity along the Aberdare and Mt. Kenya forests—a nod to both historical significance and modern utility.
Agriculture, a lifeline for Central Kenya, takes center stage with visits to livestock feedlots in Tigania West and South Imenti (Meru), aimed at boosting meat, hides, and skins exports to the EU and Middle East.
Fresh produce markets, nearing completion in counties like Nyeri, Meru, and Tharaka-Nithi, are part of a national push to build nearly 500 such facilities, enhancing farmers’ access to buyers. Meanwhile, last-mile electricity projects in Laikipia West, Kieni, and other areas aim to power economic activity, a promise that could prove transformative if fully realized.
The Political Subtext
While the tour is framed as a developmental milestone, its political undertones are unmistakable.
Ruto’s new Deputy President will accompany him, offering a chance to introduce the appointee to a region still processing Gachagua’s exit.
The restless undertones in Mt. Kenya—fueled by perceptions of political marginalisation – mean this visit is as much about optics as outcomes. Completed projects will be celebrated, but ongoing delays, such as the JM Memorial Hospital, could invite scrutiny from a populace keen to see promises fulfilled.
In sum, President Ruto’s Central Kenya tour is a high-stakes balancing act. It seeks to cement his administration’s legacy through visible progress while mending fences in a region critical to his political survival.
Whether it succeeds will depend on how residents weigh the ribbon-cutting against their broader grievances – a dynamic that could shape Kenya’s political landscape as the next election looms.
