President William Ruto has declared that the broad-based political team is the only formation with the capacity to unite Kenya, dismissing rival political groupings as lacking a credible national agenda.
Ruto said the broad-based arrangement had a proven track record, a vision for the country's future and a practical plan to address the challenges facing Kenyans.
“The broad-based political team is the only political formation with the capacity to unite our nation. It is the only formation with a proven track record, a credible vision for the future and a practical plan to address the challenges facing our country,” Ruto said.
He described other political formations as personality-driven groups, makeshift formations and briefcase parties which, he said, lacked the capacity to unite Kenyans or offer a serious plan for the country.
“Our nation is too important to be left in the hands of leaders without a plan, an agenda or a vision,” he said.
Ruto spoke in Siaya on Tuesday as he continued his development tour of Nyanza, which has taken him to Kisumu and Siaya and is set to continue to Homa Bay and Migori.
The tour has combined the commissioning and inspection of government projects with engagements with residents and local leaders.
The President's itinerary in Siaya includes inspection of Dhogoye Bridge in Bondo, the Sihayi-Bar Ober-Sega road in Ugenya, Siaya Hospital and Siaya Stadium, as well as the Kodiaga-Fabiano-Usenge road in Alego Usonga.
His latest political message comes as he seeks to consolidate support in Nyanza ahead of the 2027 General Election, following the formation of the broad-based government arrangement between Kenya Kwanza and leaders associated with the Orange Democratic Movement.
The arrangement has altered political alliances in the region, with a section of ODM leaders backing Ruto's development agenda and supporting his possible re-election.
Ruto has increasingly linked the broad-based arrangement to national unity, arguing that political cooperation across traditional party and regional divides can help the country focus on development.
During his Kisumu leg on Monday, he said the 2027 election would provide an opportunity for Kenyans to reject what he described as marginalisation, tribalism and hatred.
“We are going to unite all the communities of Kenya, we will bring unity to all parts of Kenya and we will do away with discrimination forever,” he said.
He also urged residents to support his administration's development agenda, citing roads, electricity, water and education.
In Kisumu, Ruto commissioned the Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Project and defended the government's affordable housing programme, saying Sh44 billion had been allocated for 12,000 housing units, 20 markets and 12,000 hostel beds in the county.
He also commissioned an eight-storey aviation control tower at Kisumu International Airport, a Sh1 billion project funded by the national government.
In Siaya, the development message has been accompanied by plans for major energy investments.
Ruto announced that the county could host nuclear power generation of between 2,000MW and 5,000MW, with the project intended to position Nyanza among Kenya's electricity-producing regions.
The announcement builds on his earlier plan for a 2,000MW nuclear power plant in Siaya, whose construction is targeted to begin in 2027 and commissioning in 2034.
