Billions, political rivals and stalled projects: Ruto’s North Rift offensive
President William Ruto in Kitale town in Saboti Constituency, Trans Nzoia County.
President William Ruto has intensified his North Rift political offensive, promising to take over stalled development projects in Trans Nzoia County while rallying support for his re-election, even as his visit exposed divisions within his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party in neighbouring West Pokot.
The President returned to Trans Nzoia on Friday for his third visit in a week, amid a deepening feud with Governor George Natembeya and a day after the withdrawal of the security detail attached to the county boss.
Dr Ruto, who has accused the governor of frustrating national government projects, said his administration would take over the completion of Kenyatta Stadium in Kitale, which has stalled amid financial constraints and concerns over its management.
“While I have constructed 32 stadia across the country, your stadium has stalled for years. Your governor has been unable to complete it, and I will now take over and complete it for you,” Dr Ruto said.
The pledge came amid a wider political contest in which the President has presented national government investments as evidence of his administration’s development record, while challenging local leaders who oppose his political agenda.
The latest visit followed the withdrawal of Mr Natembeya’s security detail, which the governor said had happened for the second time. He has demanded a formal explanation from Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja, questioning whether the decision complied with the law.
The timing has added to the tension between the two leaders, although the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal remain a separate matter from the President’s development announcements.
In neighbouring West Pokot, party, internal power struggles and the equitable distribution of resources dominated the President’s second tour of the county this week, exposing divisions within his UDA party as he stepped up efforts to consolidate support in the North Rift ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In Trans Nzoia, Dr Ruto announced Sh1 billion for a new Level Four hospital in Trans Nzoia, accusing the county administration of failing to provide adequate healthcare.
He criticised Wamalwa Kijana Referral Hospital, which he claimed had been nicknamed “Shakahola” because of deaths among patients seeking treatment.
“I know the challenges you face in accessing healthcare in this county. Your county referral hospital, Wamalwa Kijana Referral Hospital, has been branded Shakahola because patients who seek services there do not come back alive. What a shame,” he said.
The President said the new hospital should be completed within eight months, although he did not provide further details on the implementation arrangements.
Mr Natembeya has disputed the President’s criticism of his administration, arguing that national government projects should be backed by clear budgetary allocations and proper consultation rather than political pressure.
The governor has cited the stadium and Endebess Hospital as projects his administration has not opposed, while questioning the funding arrangements for some of the initiatives announced by the President.
Dr Ruto also launched the Masinde Muliro modern market in Kitale, a project handed over to the national government by the county administration because of financial constraints. The national government has spent close to Sh1 billion on the market.
He directed Trans Nzoia County Commissioner Hussein Allaso to prioritise the allocation of stalls to more than 1,500 traders displaced during construction. The President also gave each trader Sh10,000, amounting to Sh15 million, to support their businesses.
Other projects launched or inspected during the visit included the Kambi-Miwa-Gituamba road, the Kitale town-to-Wamalwa Kijana Referral Hospital road, affordable housing at Maili Tatu and a tuition block at the Kenya Medical Training College in Kitale.
The President said his administration had fulfilled its 2022 election pledges and would ensure Trans Nzoia benefited from investments in roads, energy, healthcare and agriculture.
“I don’t want Trans Nzoia to be left behind. That is why I have initiated projects in road infrastructure, energy, health, agriculture and other sectors. It is the right of residents of this county to realise development,” he said.
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya speaks to journalists at a past event. He has claimed that his security officers were withdrawn hours after President William Ruto toured the county.
He also attacked the opposition, accusing its leaders of lacking a development agenda and relying on divisive and tribal politics. He expressed confidence that he would win the 2027 General Election by a landslide.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula urged residents to support the President’s re-election bid, citing the revival of the sugar sector, agricultural reforms and road infrastructure.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi dismissed newly formed opposition parties as incapable of competing with Dr Ruto, while National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah accused Mr Natembeya of presiding over a failing health system.
In a further signal of the contest taking shape ahead of 2027, Dr Ruto introduced potential challengers to Mr Natembeya in the gubernatorial race: Kiminini MP Kakai Bisau, former Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa and Kenya’s representative to the United Nations, Susan Nakhumicha.
The political mobilisation extended to West Pokot, where the President used his tour to defend his development record and appeal for support for UDA, while competing factions within the ruling party positioned themselves ahead of the succession battle for Governor Simon Kachapin’s seat.
Dr Ruto, making his second visit to West Pokot within a week, said his administration was committed to narrowing development gaps between historically marginalised areas and other parts of the country.
“I want West Pokot to be at par with other counties in terms of development. That is why we are investing in housing, road infrastructure, agriculture and energy, among other sectors,” he said.
He announced that Sh2 billion had been set aside for 12-storey affordable housing units, while another Sh2.3 billion would be spent connecting 10,000 households to the national electricity grid.
The government will also upgrade Makutano Stadium at a cost of Sh800 million, with the military expected to undertake the works. Other planned investments include a Sh1 billion sewerage system for Makutano township and a Sh300 million modern market for traders.
“I have equitably distributed resources, revived the economy and implemented new projects in almost all sectors across the country. I do not want any part of the country to be left behind in terms of development,” Dr Ruto said.
But behind the development pledges, rival camps within UDA were seeking to demonstrate their influence and proximity to the President as they position themselves to succeed Mr Kachapin, who is serving his final term.
One faction is associated with former governor John Lonyangapuo, while another is aligned with Pokot South MP David Pkosing. Both have been linked to the Kenya Union Party, through which Mr Pkosing retained his parliamentary seat, while Prof Lonyangapuo lost the governorship to Mr Kachapin, who ran on a UDA ticket.
The competing alignments highlight the challenge facing the ruling party as it seeks to consolidate support for the President while managing local ambitions ahead of the next election.
Speaker Moses Wetang'ula and Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi in Trans Nzoia.
Mr Wetang’ula said previously marginalised areas were beginning to experience development under the current administration and urged residents to back Dr Ruto for a second term. Mr Mudavadi also portrayed the President as a leader championing equitable resource allocation.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, meanwhile, called for peaceful coexistence among pastoralist communities in the volatile Kerio Valley region. He said security agencies had recovered 2,300 illegal firearms during an ongoing multi-agency operation.
Across the two counties, Dr Ruto’s message was consistent: his administration was delivering development and deserved another term to complete its projects. But in Trans Nzoia, that message unfolded against an increasingly bitter dispute with an opposition governor, while in West Pokot, the ruling party’s unity was being tested by rival succession ambitions.
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