Nyanza tightens security ahead of Ruto’s four-day tour

Security has been heightened across Nyanza ahead of President William Ruto’s four-day tour of the region, with ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga urging residents to turn out in large numbers to welcome him.

Regional Commissioner Onesmus Kyatha said security agencies had intensified preparations ahead of the President’s visit, which begins on Sunday and will take him across all four counties in Nyanza.

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Kyatha said Ruto is expected to inspect and launch several government development projects during the tour.

The tour will focus on ongoing development programmes, including affordable housing, markets and road projects.

In Kisumu, the President is expected to launch the Katito-Awasi road, among other projects, and attend a church service at Voice of Salvation and Healing.

Kyatha described the visit as a working tour through which the President will assess the progress of government projects and interact with residents.

“This is a working tour for the President. He will assess the progress of development projects across the region,” he said.

The commissioner called on political leaders and other officials engaging young people to encourage them to maintain peace during the President’s visit.

“To the leaders engaging the youths, this is a visit by the President. To the youths, let us welcome the President well. Those who misbehave will be dealt with accordingly,” he said.

Kyatha said security agencies had put in place additional measures to ensure the President’s tour proceeds peacefully. “We have beefed up security,” he said.

Wanga welcomed Ruto to Nyanza, urging residents to turn out in large numbers to receive him and support the opening of development projects.

“From Sunday to Thursday, the President will be here. We welcome the President to Nyanza. We have decided that we will not engage in tribalism or anything of that nature like the opposition. We are here with him and we welcome him,” Wanga said.

She urged residents to put aside political and tribal differences and give the President a warm reception during his visit.

“As people from this region who have been mobilised for long, we welcome him to open development projects and move the region forward,” she said.

“Come out in large numbers and welcome President William Ruto,” she said.

Residents are also hoping to use the President’s visit to highlight issues affecting their livelihoods, with roads, business opportunities and essential services among their key expectations.

Businesswoman Josephine Wafula said traders were looking forward to government interventions that would make it easier for them to run their businesses and increase their incomes.

“Business people want to see development that directly benefits us. We need better roads, improved markets and opportunities that will help small traders grow. When the President comes, we hope he will listen to the challenges facing ordinary business people,” Wafula said.

Mark Oluoch said residents were keen to see development projects completed and promised government support translated into tangible improvements in their daily lives.

“We welcome the President and appreciate the projects coming to the region. But our expectation is that these projects should be completed and benefit the people. We want better roads, jobs for our young people and improved services for our communities,” Oluoch said.

He said residents would use the visit to remind the government of the need to ensure development reached ordinary citizens.