Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has taken issue with President William Ruto’s ongoing development tour of Western Kenya, alleging that it has shifted focus from addressing key regional issues to political discussions centered around him.
Speaking during a TikTok Live session on Tuesday, Gachagua expressed concern over the focus of the President’s engagements and urged him to prioritize development matters.
“The President and his team go to a region, and instead of discussing roads, water, or struggling sugar factories, they are busy discussing one person—me,” Gachagua said.
He called on the government to prioritize addressing pressing issues in the region, such as reviving struggling sugar factories, improving road infrastructure, providing clean water, and tackling healthcare shortages.
“We’ve seen this script before. When he visited Mount Kenya, he knew every road by name and every village by heart. He’s now doing the same in Western Kenya,” he added.
President Ruto’s four-day visit to Western Kenya has seen him launch and inspect several development projects. These include issuing bonuses to sugarcane farmers at Mumias Sugar Company, tarmacking the Mumias-Musanda road, initiating flood control projects in Budalang’i, and launching the Lower Nzoia Irrigation Project.
Additionally, the President laid the foundation stone for Khwisero Mother Child Level IV Hospital in Kakamega County, broke ground for Luanda Modern Market in Vihiga County, inspected the Nasewa EPZA project in Busia, and oversaw agricultural initiatives in the region.
Despite these efforts, Gachagua argued that the development agenda risks being overshadowed by political grandstanding.
“I urge the people of Western Kenya to focus on ensuring development and not be swayed otherwise,” Gachagua said, emphasizing the need for residents to scrutinize government promises and hold leaders accountable.
He reiterated that tangible development should take precedence over political rhetoric in improving the lives of citizens.
