Ruto wraps up three-day tour of Kajiado with bags of goodies
President William Ruto during a thanksgiving service in South Horr, Samburu County on September 6, 2026.
What you need to know:
- The tour provided a platform for Ruto to make political overtures in a county that has been the opposition’s stronghold.
- President Ruto urged Kenyans to reject opposition leaders whom he accused of lacking an agenda for the country.
President William Ruto on Monday wrapped up his three-day tour of the vast Kajiado County with a flurry of development projects in the vote rich Kajiado North Constituency.
The President's packed diary saw him crisscross cosmopolitan region inspecting and commissioning projects while announcing new investments in roads, water, housing, markets and other sectors.
The tour also provided a platform for Dr Ruto to make political overtures as he sought to consolidate support in a county that has traditionally been the opposition’s stronghold.
President Ruto announced that the Karen-Ngong-Kiserian-Ongata Rongai road would soon be upgraded into a dual carriageway through funding from the National Infrastructure Fund to ease perennial traffic jams along Magadi Road to Bomas Junction.
“Before December 2026, we will have commenced work on the road so that we can eliminate the traffic gridlock often witnessed,” President Ruto said. “We want to solve this challenge to spur growth in Ong'ata Rongai town.”
Addressing mammoth crowds at several stops in Gataka, Ngong and Ongata Rongai, President Ruto also announced plans to construct a bypass around Ngong to enable travelers between Nairobi and Suswa, and vice versa, to avoid passing through the town.
During his whirlwind tour, which began on Thursday in Loitokitok before he skipped Friday, President Ruto visited at least six projects daily, covering all five constituencies where he announced a raft of development projects for residents.
President Ruto’s tour was seen as an attempt to make inroads into an area long regarded as a political stronghold of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The visit left both political and development footprints as President sought to consolidate the Maa vote basket.
President Ruto was accompanied by Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku, Deputy Governor Martin Moshisho, MPs Memusi ole Kanchory (Kajiado Central), Kakuta ole Maimai (Kajiado East), Samuel Parashina (Kajiado South) and Woman Representative Leah Sankaire.
Principal Secretaries and several Members of County Assembly (MCAs) also accompanied the Head of State.
President William Ruto addresses members of the public after commissioning the Kiserian-Ongata Rongai Water Project in Kajiado North Constituency on September 7, 2026
During President Ruto's tour, political supremacy was on full display, with some leaders being heckled by sections of the crowds depending on the mobilization strength of their opponents. On several occasions, Governor Joseph ole Lenku found himself at the receiving end of the heckling.
Unlike the past few days, on Monday President Ruto avoided the Tata Chemicals debate.
President Ruto began his tour of Kajiado North Constituency by inspecting the 1,910-unit Ngong VET Affordable Housing Project, which is scheduled for completion in March 2027. The project has created employment for more than 1,500 people.
On the Affordable Housing Programme, President Ruto said the Government is investing Sh20 billion in the construction of 10,000 modern housing units across Kajiado County, creating employment opportunities for about 5,200 local youth.
He criticised political leaders seeking to derail the Affordable Housing Programme, saying such efforts undermine opportunities for young Kenyans.
“Some 1.1 million Kenyans have been employed in the Affordable Housing Programme. Where will they take them? I heard some people (in the opposition) saying they will scrap the program. This plan will continue for the next 30 years,” he said.
He also commissioned the Kiserian-Ongata Rongai Water Supply Project, a Sh1.3 billion investment by the Government of Kenya in partnership with the German Development Bank.
The project will supply five million litres of clean water daily to 180,000 residents.
“The project had stalled for some years but now at least 180,000 households extra will now benefit from this mega water project,” he said.
At the homestretch of his tour in Ongata Rongai, President Ruto laid a foundation stone for a modern market, a Sh210 million investment that will provide trading space for 1,000 traders.
He also commissioned a Sh70 million modern market, which will benefit 200 traders.
“I’m fulfilling my pledge to mama mboga for the construction of a modern market where their trade will be dignified. They will now operate in better spaces connected with power, and cold rooms for perishable goods,” Dr Ruto said.
At the same time, the President said about 740,000 residents of Kajiado County have registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA), while health facilities across the county have received Sh2.7 billion over the past one and a half years.
The President also reaffirmed the Government's commitment to ensuring that every Kenyan child has access to quality and affordable education.
Meanwhile, President Ruto urged Kenyans to reject opposition leaders whom he accused of lacking an agenda for the country, particularly those who seek to divide citizens along ethnic lines.
“They (opposition leaders) have no vision or plan for Kenya. All they have are empty slogans which cannot improve the livelihoods of citizens,” he said. “The broad-based government holds the key to uniting Kenyans and ensuring balanced development.”
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