Machakos, Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta will today tour Machakos and Kitui counties for what State House has described as a visit to inspect development projects.
The Head of State will on Sunday also visit Kisii, a region his deputy William Ruto has been to four times this year, lending credence to suggestions the Jubilee government is on a charm offensive.
Uhuru is expected to start his one-day tour of the Ukambani region at 9am, beginning from Mlolongo in Machakos County before heading for neighbouring Kitui County.
His tour comes hot on the heels of growing dissent within former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper party, where a section of members of the county assemblies have openly defied the party leader.
Observers say the President’s tour of Ukambani has a wider political agenda than development, considering a great number of elected leaders in the region are believed to lean towards the Jubilee coalition.
Yesterday, State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu confirmed the President’s engagement but declined to give furthers details.
GENERAL DEVELOPMENT
“It is true the Head of State will be in Machakos County tomorrow (today) to view general development. He may also proceed to Kitui County for the same purpose,” he told The Standard by phone.
Uhuru is set to conduct a funds drive in aid of Kisii Catholic Diocese, two weeks after former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s visit.
The President will be at Gusii Stadium at the invitation of Kisii Diocese Head Bishop Joseph Mairura.
“Yes, the President will indeed be attending a church event in Kisii this Sunday,” Mr Esipisu said.
Uhuru and Ruto have made forays into the region.
The DP’s trips have been pegged on development, having presided over five funds drives for education institutions. Political pundits argue that the ruling alliance is keen on wooing South Nyanza region.
Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua told The Standard that from a security meeting ahead of Uhuru’s coming, the visit had nothing to do with local politics. He said the President would be received by the county leadership at the Machakos/Nairobi border and would address wananchi in Mlolongo.
“The President is visiting to tour development by the national and county governments. We are interested in politics of development, not empty rhetoric,” he said.
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The governor said Uhuru would meet local leaders before addressing a public baraza at the Machakos Peoples Park.
Mavoko MP Patrick Makau welcomed the President’s visit and asked residents to turn up in large numbers.
This is the third time President Kenyatta is visiting Machakos, the first being when he launched the proposed new Machakos City and then for the burial of Kenya’s former Chief of General Staff, Gen Jackson Mulinge.
He will be visiting Kitui for the second time, having attended the Catholic Church celebrations during which he snubbed politics.
On his recent visit to Kisii early last month, Ruto asked residents and leaders to work with Jubilee.
Ruto’s rally in Stephen Manoti’s Bobasi constituency was attended by Governor James Ongwae, senators Chris Obure and Janet Ongera and a host of MPs and MCAs from Kisii.
He warned residents that retrogressive politicking would not improve the lives of Kenyans.
It was during this visit that Ruto assured Kogoro Ward Representative Samuel Apoko that the President had forgiven him.
Mr Apoko had been accused of uttering contemptuous words against Uhuru.
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