Kisii leaders intensify preparations ahead of Ruto's visit Political leaders from the Gusii region are in the final stages of preparing ...

Kisii leaders intensify preparations ahead of Ruto's visit

Political leaders from the Gusii region are in the final stages of preparing for President William Ruto's upcoming tour of Kisii and Nyamira counties. The President is expected to commission several development projects and attend a thanksgiving ceremony for Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu during his visit, which is slated to take place next week.

The leaders are still deliberating on the location for the President's public meeting, with both Gusii stadium and Nyanturago under consideration. They have already compiled a development agenda, which will be presented to Ruto as a memorandum.

Machogu is leading the process of harmonizing the region's development agenda, which will be presented to the President during his tour. The political leadership is also identifying key projects to commission during the visit.

Retired Kisii Governor James Ongwae and former deputy Joash Maangi are spearheading the preparations for the President's working visit. They have been meeting with opinion and political leaders from the region to ensure a harmonized agenda.

Maangi confirmed that plans for the President's visit were at an advanced stage, but refused to disclose the dates, saying they would be revealed at an appropriate time. He assured the public that the leadership was ready to welcome the President.

Later this week, professionals from the region will hold a meeting in Nairobi to finalize preparations with the political class. This meeting will be a follow-up to a previous one attended by key politicians from the two counties.

Ruto's visit follows Azimio boss Raila Odinga's recent tour of the region, where he criticized the government for neglecting the Abagusii community. Raila accused Ruto's government of allocating jobs to other regions, while the Abagusii community received only one Cabinet Secretary post. He dismissed the recent nomination of Shadrack Mose as Solicitor General, arguing that it was not an additional post, as the outgoing Solicitor General, Ken Ogeto, was also from the region.

Ahead of Ruto's visit, the President is expected to make several state appointments, including Chief Cabinet Secretaries, to address the community's concerns. Many leaders from the region are vying for the CASs posts. As part of his plans to appease the community, Ruto recently appointed Josephine Omanwa as a member of the Kenya Dairy Board.