President William Ruto ended his week-long tour of the 2.2 million-vote rich Western region vowing not to isolate any section of Kenya, both in terms of politics or development.
His sentiments came amid claims that in his political arithmetic, Dr Ruto is planning to either divide the Mount Kenya region into East and West or shun the bloc altogether by seeking new allies for the 2027 State House race, following his fallout with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua .
The President’s critics have also accused him of focusing his energies on the Western and Nyanza regions after falling out with ousted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and following his newfound dalliance with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga .
But in his last leg of the Western tour, Dr Ruto maintained that he will not isolate any part of the country.
“There is no community in Kenya that is going to be isolated for whatever reason. There is no region of the republic that is not going to partake in the development of our nation, there is no religion that is going to be shunned or outside this government. I have a responsibility as the leader of this nation to bring all our communities together and work with all leaders to create jobs, prosperity and wealth for our young people,” said President Ruto.
According to the 2022 Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the western region counties of Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia and Vihiga have at least 2,217,948 registered voters.
The four neighbouring Nyanza counties of Kisumu, Siaya, Migori and Homabay in Nyanza have a least 2,160,439 registered voters while Kisii and Nyamira 2022 figures indicate a total of 960,293 voters.
In the 2022 presidential election, Dr Ruto garnered 7,176,141 votes (50.5 per cent) to beat his closest rival Mr Odinga who garnered 6,942,930 votes.
Mt Kenya voted overwhelmingly for Dr Ruto and the discontent in the region, led by Mr Gachagua, has raised the stakes ahead of the 2027 elections.
On Friday, January 24, while addressing the residents of Bungoma County during a roadside rally at the heart of the town, the President said he will not be pushed to discriminate some Kenyans.
“This is my mission. I will not be distracted, I will not be blackmailed, dissuaded and nobody will stand in my way to achieve this,” he said.
President William Ruto greets traders after he launched the new Chebukube Soko Kubwa market Bungoma County on January 24, 2025.
Photo credit: Isaac Wale | Nation Media Group
The President vowed to continue uniting the country by bringing on board all like-minded leaders to help him steer the country.
“Raila (Odinga) and I have agreed that politics of ethnicity and division must stop. Do you support us to move together? That is why I have established a broad based government to bring everybody on board to enable us to focus on development,” said Dr Ruto.
He stated that he will not allow leaders who do not believe in unity and are driven by selfish interests, to drive that agenda.
And the President did not have kind words for Mr Gachagua who he told off against advising him on how to run the country.
“He (Gachagua) doesn’t understand any programmes about development, has no clue about universal health coverage, housing, agriculture, or our young people,” posed Dr Ruto.
Ruto to Gachagua: Don't lecture us on how to run the country
He said his former deputy was removed from the government because he was corrupt, incompetent, selfish and full of ethnicity which has no chance in the country.
“Some incompetent people, who were removed because of incompetence, corruption, theft and ethnicity and negativity are trying to lecture us on what direction Kenya should take. He is giving us lectures as who? Such leaders have no place in this country,” said Dr Ruto.
His first stop was Bumala Modern market in Busia, where just like other areas he made stop overs, he was received warmly with thousands of residents thronging his roadside rallies.
He later proceeded to Bungoma Modern Market- Soko Kubwa, where he laid the foundation stone for its construction and later proceeded to Chepkube Market and held a roadside rally in Bungoma Town.
He was accompanied by Prime Cabinet Secretary Mr Musalia Mudavadi , Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula, Co-operatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Development Wycliffe Oparanya, Governors Paul Otuoma (Busia), and Kenneth Lusaka (Bungoma) and a host of MPs from Western region.
Governor Otuoma asked the president to continue with the development of the region, saying he will reap big once campaigns for 2027 commences.
“Mr President, continue bringing development to this region, when the time comes for politics, you shall command the Raila army and get as many votes as possible from Busia County,” said Dr Otuoma.
Mr Mudavadi said a combination of Azimio leader Raila Odinga and president Ruto will be unbeatable in the 2027 presidential race.
“In your own analysis, if Raila is with Ruto and he has gone to the AUC, do you see anyone who can remove Ruto from power. Let us not gamble again, let us support him,” said Mr Mudavadi.
He mentioned that he made a decision to merge with UDA because that was where the country is headed.
