President William Ruto wrapped up his four-day tour of the Western region on Sunday, leaving behind a basket of goodies for the residents.
The President launched various development projects and promised more in his efforts to politically consolidate support in the region and take command of the area that was politically loyal to the late Prime Minister, Raila Odinga.
On Saturday, Dr Ruto hosted grassroots leaders from the 12 sub-counties of Kakamega at the State Lodge and spelled out a raft of multi-billion transformative projects that his administration is undertaking in the county.
Present were Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, Governor Fernandes Barasa, Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli, Principal Secretaries, MPs, MCAs, among other leaders.
"We are investing more than Sh21 billion in transformative projects in Kakamega County, reaffirming our commitment to inclusive growth and equitable development," President Ruto told the leaders.
The projects include Sh14 billion for affordable housing units, Sh2.5 billion for modern fresh produce markets, and Sh2 billion for student hostels in institutions of higher learning.
In addition, there is the establishment of a gold refinery in Ikolomani at a cost of Sh .5 billion, which is meant to ensure that the local community benefits directly from natural resources in the county.
"We have commissioned 230 kilometers of new roads across the county and allocated Sh2.6 billion to connect 34,000 homesteads to electricity, advancing our agenda of universal access to power," he added.
He said his administration was negotiating for Sh600 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to increase the allocation to Sh3.2 billion for electricity in Kakamega.
The President has also committed to rehabilitating the Kakamega Airstrip and upgrading it to a modern airport to position Kakamega as a regional economic hub.
President William Ruto tours Alupe University in Teso South Constituency on October 31, 2025, to inspect the ongoing construction of student hostels and a tuition block.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
He said the runway of the airport will be expanded from 900 meters to 1.2 kilometers, and its width of 18 meters will be widened to 30 meters to accommodate larger aircraft.
A previous renovation of the airstrip was in 2022, which saw Skyward Express launch flights operating between Kakamega and Nairobi. But the flights were suspended in September 2024 after the condition of the runway deteriorated.
The current renovation includes expanding the airstrip by 34 acres, signaling a possible relocation of nearby residents.
President Ruto said the government will, in addition, put up a new terminal to improve the facelift of the facility.
He committed to completing the construction of Bukhungu Stadium and Kakamega County Teaching and Referral Hospital.
"I have agreed with Governor Fernandes Barasa that the national government takes over the completion of the grand hospital so that it can move fast. We have allocated Sh1.4 billion for Bukhungu Stadium and Sh1 billion for the Teaching and Referral Hospital, both of which will serve as flagship facilities in sports and healthcare," he explained.
On Sunday, Dr Ruto inspected the construction works at the Kakamega Teaching and Referral Hospital, confirming that the national government had taken up the completion of the facility, which, when completed, will be upgraded to a national referral facility to serve the wider Western region.
The President explained that the government has allocated Sh1 billion to the project, which is expected to be completed in 10 months.
“I have told my brother Governor Fernandes Barasa that because this is a big facility, he should leave it to me to complete so that the people of Kakamega can have access to a Level Six hospital,” he said.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet Secretaries Wycliffe Oparanya and Deborah Barasa and Kakamega County Governor Barasa were present.
The President said the facility will complement other referral hospitals in the country, noting that such medical facilities will make universal healthcare a reality.
President Ruto told the contractor to employ over 1,000 young people to ensure that the project is completed within the 10-month period.
President William Ruto (cetre) with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi (left), National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula (right) and kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa during a meeting with grassroots leaders from Kakamega County at State Lodge Kakamega.
Photo credit: PCS
He commended Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya for his bold and visionary leadership during his tenure as governor of Kakamega from 2013 to 2022. He started the project in 2016.
“Thank you, Oparanya, for thinking big. Universal healthcare will not be a reality if we don't commit to establishing and equipping health facilities,” he said.
He also praised the current governor, Mr. Barasa, for continuing with the implementation of the project, saying some leaders abandon their predecessor’s projects.
“The government is a continuous enterprise. Projects do not belong to individuals; they belong to the people, and elected leaders must commit themselves to working for the people instead of competing among themselves,” he said.
Earlier, the President broke ground for the construction of student hostels at Ebukanga Technical and Vocational College in Emuhaya, Vihiga County.
At Shiveye, Ikolomani Constituency, he launched the construction of the 33-kilometer Shamakhokho Kaimosi-Mpaka-Mululu-Museno-Malinya Road, which connects Kakamega and Vihiga counties.
President William Ruto (centre) with political leaders in Kakamega County on November 01, 2025.
Photo credit: Isaac Wale | Nation Media Group
Governor Barasa expressed his commitment and that of the people of Kakamega to work with the government in implementing transformative development programs.
President Ruto said the projects he was launching are designed to uplift the lives of the people, expand opportunities, and ensure equitable development across the country.
The President noted that Western Kenya has long lagged behind in national development, hence the need for affirmative action to bring it in line with other parts of the country.
"We want to make sure that Western Kenya is as good as any other part of the Republic of Kenya," he said on Saturday at State Lodge Kakamega.
