Ruto intensifies bid to pacify Western region with goodies

President William Ruto is being received by Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa at Kakamega Airstrip. [Benard Lusigi, Standard]

President William Ruto has intensified his efforts to consolidate support in the Western region, seeking to inherit the crucial voting base long commanded by the late ODM leader Raila Odinga.

During a development tour in the region, Ruto dismissed his opponents as weak and predicted an easy victory in the 2027 elections.

Speaking in Butere at the commissioning of the newly completed Butere Level Four Hospital, Ruto emphasised his commitment to national unity, ending tribalism, and addressing uneven development across the country, goals he said had been agreed upon with Raila before his passing.

"We lost our good Mzee Raila Odinga, and before his demise, I had reached out to him to unite the country under a broad-based government, and he accepted. In his respect, and God willing, I will ensure no region lags in development. Tribalism, divisive politics, and violence will be things of the past," Ruto said.

In a move to inherit Raila's political base, the President urged ODM leaders to collaborate under the broad-based government to deliver services to their constituents. "We are working with leaders, such as CS Wycliffe Oparanya, Governor Fernandes Barasa, Butere MP Tindi Mwale, and others who were in Azimio, but we are now united. My plea is for us to work together and serve our people," he added.

Ruto dismissed opposition leaders, accusing them of offering nothing beyond tribalism and empty rhetoric. While launching the Malava-Samitsi-Navakholo road in Malava Constituency, he described his opponents as "clueless" and asserted that the only person who could have been a serious competitor was the late Raila Odinga.

"These people have no plans, and sloganeering alone will not defeat me. The only real competitor would have been Raila, and I will easily defeat them in 2027," Ruto said.

During his visit, the President announced several development initiatives for Kakamega County. He pledged to connect 34,000 households to electricity, allocating Sh2.5 billion for the programme. Additionally, Sh2.2 billion has been set aside for road construction, while Sh1 billion will complete the stalled Kakamega Level Six Hospital within nine months. Ruto also promised to finalise the Bukhungu Stadium project, pledging Sh1.4 billion.

The President committed to equipping the newly commissioned Butere County Hospital under the National Equipment Service Programme, with Sh150 million earmarked for medical equipment. Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa welcomed the support, highlighting its role in advancing universal healthcare.

"I am committed to completing all projects initiated by my predecessor, Wycliffe Oparanya. This facility will serve the southern part of Kakamega, and I thank the President for releasing an additional Sh1 billion to finish the referral hospital. Residents will soon access full medical services here," Barasa said.

Barasa also indicated that ODM supporters in the region would rally behind Ruto in 2027. "As the ODM county chairperson, our party leader left us in the broad-based government. We will remain united and support President Ruto's reelection bid," he stated.

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli urged continued support for Ruto, noting that the region has benefited significantly from development under his government.

Several leaders, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, CS Oparanya, and MPs Tindi Mwale, Raphael Wanjala, and Bishop Titus Khamala, pledged to remain in the broad-based government and back Ruto beyond 2027.