President William Ruto on Thursday, November 13, 2025, initiated a development portfolio in Kitui County valued at over Sh20 billion, launching and inspecting a suite of projects aimed at transforming the region's economic landscape. The presidential tour, part of a broader four-day visit to the Lower Eastern (Ukambani) region, carries significant economic and political weight, representing a major test of the Kenya Kwanza administration's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) in an area considered the political home turf of opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

Accompanied by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Kitui Governor Julius Malombe, the President's engagements spanned five constituencies, signaling a focused effort to address historical development gaps in infrastructure, trade, and housing.

Boosting Trade and Agriculture

A cornerstone of the visit was the commissioning of the Kamuwongo fresh produce market in Mwingi North. The Sh59 million facility, which began construction in May 2024, is designed to accommodate over 200 traders and is equipped with modern amenities including a cafeteria, cold storage rooms, an ICT hub, and nursing rooms. According to a statement from the presidency, the market will be jointly managed by the County Government of Kitui and local traders. This project is one of 11 similar markets under construction across the county, part of a national program to build 400 such facilities to empower small-scale traders and improve market access for agricultural produce.

Infrastructure Overhaul

A significant portion of the announced investment is earmarked for critical infrastructure, particularly roads that have long hampered economic activity in the vast county. President Ruto officially launched the tarmacking of the 13-kilometre Kamuwongo–Kandwia road, a project allocated Sh1 billion that had reportedly stalled for eight years. This road is a crucial segment of the Mwingi-Kamuwongo-Ciangera network, which will connect the Thika-Garissa road with the Ena-Chiakariga road, opening up remote areas to markets.

Further road projects launched or inspected during the tour include the 33km Tulia–Migwani–Mbondoni road in Mwingi West, the Ikutha–Kanziku–Mutha–Motomo road in Kitui South, and the 25km Chuluni–Zombe road in Kitui East, valued at Sh1.4 billion. In total, the government plans to upgrade 160km of roads across the county. During a previous visit in June 2025, Deputy President Kindiki had affirmed the government's commitment to reviving all stalled road projects nationwide, highlighting several of these Kitui roads as priorities.

Affordable Housing and Connectivity

Addressing the national housing agenda, President Ruto announced a Sh15 billion allocation from the Housing Fund to construct 6,000 affordable housing units in Kitui. This allocation includes a specific Sh1.6 billion component for the construction of new hostels for university, technical college, and KMTC students in the county. The initiative is part of the administration's national plan to deliver one million housing units by 2027 and create jobs for the youth.

In a bid to enhance connectivity, Sh2.3 billion has been earmarked to connect 20,000 homes in Kitui to the national electricity grid under the Last Mile program during the 2026/27 financial year. The President also issued 15,000 title deeds to residents in Mwingi North, part of a wider initiative across Ukambani to resolve land ownership disputes that the World Bank estimated in 2023 have delayed projects worth over Ksh 500 billion annually.

Political and Economic Implications

The President's tour, which was rescheduled from October following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, is seen as a strategic move to make development inroads in a region that has historically voted for the opposition. President Ruto has repeatedly stated his intention to ensure the Ukambani region is not left behind in national development, regardless of political affiliations. The visit underscores the administration's focus on tangible projects like roads, markets, and housing as the primary vehicles for economic upliftment and political outreach. The successful and timely implementation of this Sh20 billion portfolio will be closely watched by residents and political observers as a measure of the government's commitment to its promises for the region.