Homa Bay -President William Ruto continued his tour of Kenya’s Nyanza region on Friday with a flurry of development promises and public appearances, underscoring both economic ambition and political reconciliation ahead of this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations.
His first stop was Tom Mboya University in Homa Bay, where he closed the Blue Economy Conference and officially opened a new university building. The President struck a confident tone as he described the sector as a “sleeping giant” that could lift coastal and lakeside communities out of poverty.
“We are organising, investing and modernising,” Ruto told attendees. “Through better infrastructure and stronger institutions, the blue economy will be a key engine for growth.”
A Political and Economic Tour
Notably, Ruto was joined by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, a rare show of unity between the two longtime political rivals. Their joint appearance added weight to the tour, given the historically frosty relations between Ruto’s administration and Odinga’s Nyanza stronghold.
Also present were Cabinet Secretaries, local governors, MPs and MCAs signaling the political significance of the visit just days before Madaraka Day is held at the newly named Raila Odinga Stadium on 1 June.
The blue economy focused on fisheries, marine resources and port development has become central to Ruto’s regional strategy. He announced that the government had begun converting Kenya’s 450 registered Beach Management Units (BMUs) into cooperative-style economic units. So far, grants totaling KSh3.2 billion have been issued to support the transformation.
“This is how we empower communities that have relied on fishing for generations,” the President said. “They deserve structured, sustainable livelihoods.”
Investments in Education and Infrastructure
Later in the day, Ruto was expected to launch a new campus for the Kenya School of Law and open a Maritime Centre of Excellence, a joint initiative with Tom Mboya University. Both institutions aim to build a skilled workforce to support the marine economy.
From there, the President’s itinerary included a visit to the Kenya Ports Authority pier, a tour of the Homa Bay fish market, and an inspection of ongoing road infrastructure projects, including the new Rangwe Sub-County headquarters.
On Saturday, Ruto will host a closed-door meeting with Homa Bay’s political and community leaders at the State Lodge. The discussions are expected to focus on development priorities and regional cooperation.
A Calculated Outreach
The visit appears to be part of a broader effort to rebuild ties with a region that has long been politically aligned with Raila Odinga. While Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza coalition has historically faced resistance in Nyanza, the tour marks a shift in tone.
By championing economic programmes and standing side-by-side with Odinga, the President seems to be betting on development as a bridge to unity.
The question now is whether residents, many of whom remain loyal to the opposition, will view the tour as a genuine effort or a carefully timed political move.
For now, the focus is on Madaraka Day. But beneath the speeches and handshakes, the road to political realignment may just be starting in earnest.
