President William Ruto is received by Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime at Wundayi Stadium on Saturday.President William Ruto has started an eight-day development tour of the Coast to unveil a multibillion-shilling investment drive.
The programme includes the issuance of nearly 200,000 title deeds, the launch of major infrastructure projects and the groundbreaking of a proposed Sh2 trillion oil refinery in Lamu.
The tour, which began on Saturday in Taita Taveta, will take the President through all six coastal counties — Taita Taveta, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, Mombasa and Tana River — between September 26 and October 3.
The itinerary focuses on infrastructure, affordable housing, education, land reforms, energy, water projects and economic empowerment, with residents expected to attend project launches, public rallies and title deed issuance ceremonies.
The government says the tour is aimed at accelerating development projects while addressing historical land ownership challenges affecting coastal communities.
On Saturday, Ruto launched the tour in Taita Taveta, where he inspected and launched education, housing and road projects.
His first stop was Wumingu Technical and Vocational College in Wundanyi, where he laid the foundation stone for new student hostels.
He later inspected the Mto Mwagodi-Wundanyi Road project before launching an Affordable Housing Programme project and an Economic Stimulus Programme market in Wundanyi town.
In Taveta, the President inspected the Cess-Lake Jipe Road, commissioned Lesisia School and assessed progress of the Taveta Affordable Housing Programme.
A major focus of the tour will be the issuance of nearly 200,000 title deeds. The exercise forms part of the national government’s plan to issue 500,000 title deeds countrywide.
Taita Taveta residents in Mwatate and Voi constituencies are set to receive 31,318 title deeds, while Kwale has the largest allocation at 94,175. Kilifi will get 36,826, Mombasa 4,360, while Lamu and Tana River will receive a combined 22,770.
The government says the documents will enable beneficiaries to formally own their land, invest in development, access financing and address uncertainty over land tenure.
On Monday, thousands of residents in Kwale are expected to receive title deeds at Kibaoni in Lunga Lunga constituency. Ruto will also return briefly to Taita Taveta for the groundbreaking of the Voi-Sagala Road, inspection of Voi Stadium and the launch of the Maungu-Kasighau Road.
On Tuesday, 27,000 title deeds are scheduled for issuance in Kilifi to beneficiaries from several constituencies.
The President will also launch road projects, commission the Watamu Economic Stimulus Programme Market and Chonyi subcounty administration headquarters, and launch construction of the Mazeras Economic Stimulus Programme Market.
Ruto is also scheduled to inspect progress of the Mwache Dam in Kwale, commission Fulugani Comprehensive School and open the Kenya Coast National Polytechnic’s Kwale Campus Maritime Logistics Training Centre.
The biggest investment announcement of the tour is scheduled for Wednesday in Lamu, where Ruto will preside over the groundbreaking of the proposed East African Oil Refinery at Lamu Port.
The refinery is valued at $16 billion (about Sh2 trillion), and is expected to be developed jointly by the Kenyan government and Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote.
The proposed facility will process crude oil from Turkana’s Lokichar oil fields and supply refined petroleum products to markets across East and Central Africa.
The government says the project will strengthen Kenya’s energy security, expand industrial activity around Lamu Port and create more than 500,000 jobs once fully operational.
In Mombasa, Ruto will focus on housing, transport infrastructure and land ownership.
He will lay the foundation stone for student hostels at Shanzu Technical Training College, launch the Hobley Road Affordable Housing Estate and inspect the Likoni Ferry passenger terminal.
On Friday, he is expected to issue 4,300 title deeds to beneficiaries from several settlements in Mombasa.
The tour will conclude in Lamu and Tana River, where 7,026 title deeds will be issued before Ruto launches construction of the Nanighi Solar Generation Plant in Bura constituency.
The project is expected to boost renewable energy production, expand electricity access and support economic activity in Tana River.
