National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has called on residents of Western Kenya to reject tribal politics and instead rally behind leaders focused on development and economic transformation.
Speaking on Wednesday in Busia County during a regional tour by President William Ruto, Wetang’ula said the country must move beyond ethnic divisions and embrace unity to accelerate development.
“Kenya has moved beyond the politics of division. We cannot afford to be held hostage by leaders who thrive on ethnic mobilisation yet have nothing to show in terms of development,” the Speaker said.
Wetang’ula urged leaders and residents in the region to focus on service delivery and economic progress, arguing that unity would help Western Kenya secure more development opportunities.
“The future of Western Kenya lies in unity of purpose. We are better off consolidating our voice and working with a government that is committed to delivering tangible results for our people,” he said.
He cautioned against politicians who, he said, exploit ethnic identities for political gain while offering little in terms of development.
“Let us reject leaders who come to divide us along tribal lines. Our strength is in our diversity, and our progress depends on how well we work together as one people,” Wetang’ula added, urging residents to support President Ruto’s leadership as the country moves toward the 2027 elections.
President Ruto, who was touring the region to inspect and launch development projects, echoed the Speaker’s call for unity and warned against what he termed retrogressive tribal politics.
“As Kenyans, we should not allow a few politicians with tribal hangovers to divide us because they have nothing to show in terms of development,” Ruto said.
The President said his administration remains focused on development and service delivery despite ongoing political criticism.
“When our competitors engage on issues, we will meet them there with clarity and reason. But when they resort to insults, we will spend only one per cent of our time responding and 99 per cent serving Kenyans,” he said.
During the tour, the President inspected the Nangina Affordable Housing Project in Funyula, saying legal challenges that had previously slowed down its implementation had been resolved.
He expressed confidence that the housing project would now move forward quickly.
Construction, he said, is expected to be completed within six months.
The President also launched the construction of key roads in Busia County and handed over the Amagoro Modern Market in Teso North to traders, part of the government’s programme to expand market infrastructure for small-scale businesses.
In addition, Ruto commissioned development projects across Kakamega County, Vihiga County and Bungoma County as part of the government’s broader plan to boost economic activity in the Western region.
The Head of State said the administration is prioritizing investments aimed at empowering small-scale traders, farmers and young people through improved infrastructure and skills development initiatives.
“Our young people are not voting tools to be used during elections and forgotten. They are the backbone of our economy, and we are investing in their future through education, skills, and enterprise,” Ruto said.
Leaders accompanying the President during the tour, including governors and Cabinet Secretaries, welcomed the ongoing projects, describing them as transformative for the region’s economy.
They said investments in markets, housing and roads are already improving livelihoods and opening up opportunities for residents.
The leaders also expressed optimism that continued collaboration between national and county governments would accelerate development in Western Kenya.
The President’s tour of the region is part of a broader effort by the government to highlight ongoing development projects and engage local communities on its economic agenda.