President William Ruto’s four-day visit to Nyanza has prompted heightened security preparations, with authorities urging residents and political leaders to ensure the President’s tour is peaceful as he moves across the region from Sunday.
Regional Commissioner Onesmus Kyatha said security agencies had intensified their preparations ahead of the visit, which will take Ruto through all four counties of Nyanza.
The President is scheduled to inspect, commission and launch a number of government projects during the tour, which will focus on development programmes in areas including affordable housing, markets and roads.
In Kisumu, Ruto is expected to launch the Katito-Awasi road and attend a church service at Voice of Salvation and Healing, among other activities planned during the visit.
Kyatha said the tour would give the President an opportunity to check on the progress of projects being implemented by the government while meeting residents across the region.
“This is a working tour for the President. He will assess the progress of development projects across the region,” he said.
The regional commissioner also called on political leaders and officials working with young people to encourage them to maintain peace throughout the President’s engagements.
He warned that those who cause trouble during the visit would face action, while asking young people to receive the President peacefully.
“To the leaders engaging the youths, this is a visit by the President. To the youths, let us welcome the President well. Those who misbehave will be dealt with accordingly,” he said.
Kyatha said additional security measures had been put in place to safeguard the President and ensure the tour proceeds without disruptions.
“We have beefed up security,” he said.
ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga also welcomed Ruto to the region, asking residents to come out in large numbers as the President visits the four counties.
Wanga said residents should avoid tribal and political divisions during the tour and instead focus on the development projects expected to be opened by the President.
“From Sunday to Thursday, the President will be here. We welcome the President to Nyanza. We have decided that we will not engage in tribalism or anything of that nature like the opposition. We are here with him and we welcome him,” Wanga said.
She said the region had been mobilised for a long time and should use the President’s visit to push for development that can improve the lives of residents.
“As people from this region who have been mobilised for long, we welcome him to open development projects and move the region forward,” she said.
Wanga further urged residents to attend the President’s engagements and give him a warm reception throughout the four-day tour.
“Come out in large numbers and welcome President William Ruto,” she said.
Beyond the planned launches and inspections, residents are looking to the visit as a chance to present issues affecting their daily lives to the government.
Road infrastructure, business opportunities and access to essential services are among the concerns residents want addressed, with traders hoping the President’s visit will bring attention to challenges affecting their livelihoods.
Businesswoman Josephine Wafula said traders wanted development programmes that would have a direct effect on their businesses and incomes.
“Business people want to see development that directly benefits us. We need better roads, improved markets and opportunities that will help small traders grow. When the President comes, we hope he will listen to the challenges facing ordinary business people,” Wafula said.
Mark Oluoch said residents welcomed the projects planned for the region but wanted them completed so that communities could benefit from them.
He said the President’s visit should also provide an opportunity for residents to remind the government about the need for better infrastructure, employment opportunities and improved public services.
“We welcome the President and appreciate the projects coming to the region. But our expectation is that these projects should be completed and benefit the people. We want better roads, jobs for our young people and improved services for our communities,” Oluoch said.
He said residents would use the President’s visit to raise their concerns and push for government development to reach ordinary people across Nyanza.