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President William Ruto commences a significant development tour across Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui counties, culminating in the national Mashujaa Day celebrations, aiming to launch and inspect key infrastructure projects and foster regional ties.
President William Ruto is set to embark on a week-long development tour of the Ukambani region, beginning Wednesday, October 15, 2025, and concluding with the Mashujaa Day celebrations on Monday, October 20, 2025, in Kitui County. The tour will focus on launching and inspecting various development projects across Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui counties.
The itinerary for the presidential visit was finalised on Friday, October 10, 2025, following a meeting between Kenya Kwanza Members of Parliament (MPs) and government officials from the three counties with President Ruto. This tour marks President Ruto's first major development visit to the region, which predominantly supported ODM leader Raila Odinga in the 2022 General Election.
The President's tour is expected to kick off on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, with visits to Mwingi West and Kitui East constituencies in Kitui County, and Kangundo in Machakos County. In Mwingi West, President Ruto is scheduled to launch the Kwasiku-Migwani-Mbondoni Road, which has recently been upgraded to bitumen standards. This 27-kilometre road project, costing KSh 3.8 billion, is part of the stalled Kibwezi-Kitui-Mwingi highway and aims to enhance connectivity in the region.
In Kangundo, Machakos County, the Head of State will preside over the tarmacking of the Mwala-Kangundo Road. This road project is anticipated to ease traffic congestion on Mombasa Road and stimulate business growth in Mwala and Kangundo, serving as a vital shortcut to Nairobi for residents of Kitui and Machakos counties.
Other projects on the President's agenda during the tour include the commissioning of the Emali-Ukia Road in Makueni County and the Ikutha-Mutha Road in Kitui County on Friday. He is also expected to officially reopen the upgraded Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui, which will host the Mashujaa Day celebrations.
President Ruto's visit comes amid heightened political activity in the Ukambani region, a perceived stronghold of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka. The tour is seen by some as part of the Kenya Kwanza administration's strategy to gain support from the Kamba community ahead of the 2027 general elections. Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, who led the Ukambani delegation to State House, emphasised the President's commitment to the socio-economic transformation of the region.
The visit also follows recent political realignments, including Mwingi West MP Charles Ngusya Nguna's decision to align with the Kenya Kwanza government, citing a focus on development for his constituents. This move has drawn criticism from the Wiper party, which has accused Nguna of violating party discipline.
While the government highlights the development initiatives, opposition figures like Kalonzo Musyoka have accused the administration of sidelining Ukambani in its development agenda, citing the stalled Thwake Dam and slow progress at Konza Technopolis. However, President Ruto's allies maintain that the ongoing projects demonstrate the President's goodwill towards the region.
The tour's reception in the Ukambani region will be closely watched, particularly in light of the ongoing political dynamics and the upcoming 2027 general elections. The extent to which these development projects sway public opinion and influence political allegiances in a region traditionally aligned with the opposition remains a key point of interest.
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