Ruto launches Northern Kenya charm offensive in four counties

President William Ruto will be in Northern Kenya this week, continuing his charm offensive aimed at uniting regions and fulfilling his development promises.

The President is set to chair a Cabinet meeting in Garissa, marking the first time such a high-level meeting has been held in the Northern region town. He will also open an immigration office that was closed during the previous administration.

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The tour is expected to take stock of the projects the government is implementing.

Other critical issues expected to be addressed include border control, national identity cards and passports, insecurity, water scarcity, infrastructure, teacher shortages, and the lack of drugs in hospitals.

The census issue is also expected to emerge, following a court ruling that quashed the 2019 census results for Wajir, Mandera, and Garissa counties due to discrepancies.

The President will commence his tour today in Mandera, followed by visits to Wajir, Garissa, and Isiolo counties throughout the week.

Residents of the region, which faces numerous challenges, are hopeful that Ruto’s tour will bring positive results.

Kenya Livestock Marketing Council Chairman Mzee Dubat Ali Amey described the President’s visit as significant, saying locals expect him to address priorities raised during the Pastoralists Summit held in Wajir.

Dubat referred to critics of Ruto’s leadership as “noisemakers” and urged him to continue with his development agenda, adding that politicians who failed during their time should allow him to serve his term.

“Kenyans are intelligent enough to recognise what President Ruto has done, but there are always noisemakers. We are asking him to continue with his agenda, and we as citizens will support him,” Dubat told The Standard yesterday.

Ruto is expected to launch an affordable housing project in Garissa and assess the construction of the Garissa-Madogo bridge, which was damaged by floods last March.

Muktar Dahir Osman, chairman of the Garissa Human Rights Network, urged the President to address the ongoing water shortage and escalating insecurity in the region.

“We are happy to hear that the Cabinet meeting will be held here. We are asking the President to address issues of electricity, which have been a problem in this town,” he added.

Muktar emphasised that development cannot happen without addressing insecurity, urging President Ruto’s government to make it a priority.

Muktar also called on Ruto to halt extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.

Salah Yerrow Omar, a youth, said the visit provides an opportunity for the President to understand the challenges facing young people, including unemployment, access to education, and economic hardships.

He urged the President to prioritise youth-centred policies that promote job creation, skills development, and entrepreneurship.

“I ask the President for more government investment in infrastructure, security, and digital access to bridge the gap between our region and the rest of the country,” said the youth from Ijara.

The visit coincides with the opening of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) offices in Mandera over the weekend by Secretary-General Hassan Omar, as the party prepares to conduct a comprehensive recruitment drive in the region.

“The office aims to ensure smooth party operations within the county. The party plans to increase its membership in the region, which previously voted for the opposition. Leaders emphasised the need for a united country,” UDA said in an alert posted on its X handle.

Key political parties in the region include the United Democratic Movement (UDM) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

UDM, initially allied with the Azimio la Umoja coalition, later declared its defection to Kenya Kwanza and signed a post-election coalition agreement.

However, some leaders in the region questioned the timing of the UDA office openings, arguing that the focus should have been on organising a united welcome for the President instead of sowing divisions among existing parties.

“The President will visit and leave in a few days. What’s next? A rushed and poorly planned initiative is bound to be short-lived. If they genuinely had the party’s best interests at heart, they should have focused on organising a united and dignified welcome for the President instead of sowing division between sister parties. Leadership is about building, not tearing down,” said Mandera Senator Ali Roba on his X platform.

Nevertheless, Hassan extended an invitation to other parties in the Northern region to work with UDA, dismissing what he called tribal politics pushed by some leaders.

He urged residents to register as voters in large numbers, stressing that when elections come, their voices will be heard, and that it is an opportunity to protect the community’s interests.

“We’ve been sidelined for many years, but this time we will ensure we are in key positions in government. We will make sure Ruto is re-elected for a second term without opposition,” he said.

Political commentator Mark Bichachi noted that UDM and ODM are partners in the broader government coalition, and this visit should not disrupt the regional political balance for these parties.

“The President is building a coalition that spans all regions of Kenya. His visits are long enough for his presence to be felt practically. The strategy worked for him in Central Kenya in 2022,” Bichachi said.

Leaders from the region have been working to address critical issues, with the North Eastern Parliamentary Group pushing for an integrated approach to address the region’s historical injustices and promote inclusive development.

While in Western Kenya, Ruto maintained that no region or community would be left out of the Government’s development plans.

“We will bring all Kenyans together and work with leaders from diverse political backgrounds to create a more prosperous nation. That is our mission, and no one will stand in our way,” said Ruto during his Western tour.

He added that Kenya cannot be transformed through populist politics, stressing that it requires leaders with the capacity and courage to push for progressive policies that improve people’s lives.

“We can only move forward when we are united. Kenya has no room for leaders whose sole agenda is to divide the country along regional or tribal lines,” he insisted.

The region has faced numerous challenges, and local leaders are optimistic that Ruto’s visit will lead to significant developments in response to the issues they have raised.

Following years of government condemnation, Ruto announced last April the abolishment of vetting during the national ID card application process for certain ethnic groups.

He stated that he would issue a policy document ensuring a mechanism similar to the one for other Kenyans, guaranteeing that no one would face discrimination based on religion or region.

“Every Kenyan should be treated equally. We have changed the old policy, and the policy documents have been concluded. Beginning in May, there will no longer be vetting for those seeking national IDs,” the President told Muslim leaders in April.

Meanwhile, a section of Mt Kenya is preparing to unveil a new political party, which they say will offer a better bargaining platform to avoid disenfranchisement.

At the same time, a coalition of leaders including Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i, ex-Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, and Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa is in the works.

The leaders have insisted they will make Ruto a one-term President, accusing him of failing to deliver on his promises and meet the expectations of Kenyans.