President headed to Western with bags of goodies

Bishop Asilutwa said Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Governors Fernandes Barasa (Kakamega), Wilber Ottichilo (Vihiga), UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala and MPs Dick Maungu (Luanda), Bishop Titus Khamala (Lurambi) and Omboko Milembe (Emuhaya) have confirmed their attendance.

The Sh500 million conference centre is being constructed on a 10-acre parcel of land. It will house a five-star hotel with a 250-bed capacity and a conference centre with a capacity of over 3,000 seats.

Archbishop Olang' who died in 2004 of a heart attack was the first black ACK Archbishop after the country gained independence from the colonialists.

This will be the sixth time Ruto is visiting the region and the third in Kakamega County in a span of six months.

Political pundits are still holding the view that the many visits by the President are meant to ring-fence his support in the region ahead of the 2027 duel as a fallback plan in case Central Kenya will not support his reelection.

"The President, by all means, trying to wrestle the Mulembe nation that traditionally vote for Azimio leader Raila Odinga to his side," said Kwendo Opanga, a political analyst.

Mr Opanga reckoned that Ruto, since ascending to power has been restless and is not taking any chances, saying that he is now on a charm offensive move to snatch the region from Raila ahead of 2027.

Others are of the view that the President tour is to cool temperatures over murmurs that he gave Mulembe nation a raw deal when it comes to bringing development projects and government appointments to the region.

This is despite Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula playing a key role in his victory.

Daniel Nyangweso, a political pundit from Kakamega believes that Ruto is a man on a mission saying his aggression can only mean one thing, "clip Raila's wings by invading Western, his perceived stronghold through launch of projects and fund drives in order to solidify his support base ahead of 2027.

"Western Kenya remains a high price competition space.