President William Ruto has turned his Nyanza development tour into a political showdown, daring the opposition to face his broad-based alliance at the 2027 ballot as ODM and UDA leaders publicly rally behind his re-election bid.
On the second day of his Nyanza tour, President Ruto challenged the opposition to prepare for a contest of ideas, ambition and development, as supporters dressed in yellow and orange showcased what leaders described as growing broad-based support for his administration.
On the broad-based, we are ready for the contest of ideas, ambition and an agenda for the transformation of our nation,” Ruto said, signalling an increasingly political tone to his tour of the region.
ODM leaders accompanying the President pledged their support for his re-election campaign, while at the same time insisting that their backing must be reflected in the distribution of government positions and opportunities.
ODM leaders accompanying the President pledged their support for his re-election campaign, while at the same time insisting that their backing must be reflected in the distribution of government positions and opportunities.
Ruto also fired back at Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna over his criticism of the Affordable Housing Programme. Sifuna had challenged the government’s housing agenda during a Linda Mwananchi rally in Nairobi, including proposing that affordable housing units be allocated to police officers if the movement takes power.
Speaking in Kisumu, Ruto dismissed the criticism and said his administration had already planned to construct 20,000 houses for police officers.
Beyond the political exchanges, the President’s Kisumu itinerary focused heavily on development projects.
Ruto commissioned the KSh8.4 billion Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Project in Kisumu Central, a project aimed at expanding water and sanitation infrastructure in the Lake Victoria Basin.
He also inspected the Rabuor–Chiga Road in Nyando Constituency and the Mamboleo–Miwani–Chemelil–Muhoroni–Kipsitet Road, while commissioning the airport control tower in Kisumu West Constituency.
