MIGORI, Kenya — President William Ruto began a three-day tour of Migori County on Sunday with a mix of prayer, politics and promises.
The visit, billed as a development drive, is also being closely watched for its political undertones as Kenya edges toward the 2027 general election.
Ruto kicked off the tour with an interdenominational church service at Migori Primary School grounds in Suna East, receiving a warm welcome from local clergy and residents.
His itinerary over the next two days will take him through Suna West, Rongo, Uriri and Awendo constituencies.
“We are not here for politics. We are here to work,” Ruto told the congregation, standing beside area MPs and county officials. “Development will not wait for elections. It must happen now, and it must be fair to all Kenyans.”
During the visit, the President is expected to launch and inspect several key projects.
These include the commissioning of the Stella-Gogo-Sibuoche tarmac road, a significant transport artery in the region, and the groundbreaking for a 200-unit affordable housing scheme in Uriri.
He will also assess ongoing health initiatives and infrastructure upgrades across the county, aiming to address long-standing complaints about underinvestment in the area.
But beyond the tarmac and ribbon-cutting, the political significance of Ruto’s visit is impossible to ignore.
Migori is a traditional stronghold of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), led by Raila Odinga. But since a cooperation pact between Odinga and Ruto was signed earlier this year, the ground has been shifting.
Analysts see this tour as part of the President’s broader strategy to tighten his grip on the region.
“Ruto is slowly but deliberately building bridges in ODM zones. This visit is as much about the optics as it is about development,” said Dr. Rosebella Atieno, a political analyst at Maseno University. “It’s a test of whether the handshake with Raila is translating into local political goodwill.”
During a State House meeting in March with leaders from Western Kenya, Ruto reaffirmed his administration’s pledge to revive the struggling sugar sector—a lifeline for many Migori residents.
That promise is likely to feature prominently during this tour, though critics remain sceptical.
“We’ve heard it all before,” said Tom Ouma, a cane farmer in Awendo. “If he means business, let him fix Sony Sugar first. That’s our real test.”
With the 2027 polls on the horizon and regional allegiances under negotiation, Ruto’s presence in Migori is seen as both a campaign preview and a barometer of his administration’s reach.
He is expected to wrap up the visit on Tuesday. Whether it will move votes remains to be seen—but the message is clear: the President wants to be seen, heard, and remembered in a region once considered politically out of reach.
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