President William Ruto has begun a high-profile tour of the Nyanza region just days before the national Madaraka Day celebrations, which are set to be held for the first time at the newly upgraded Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County.
Landing in Kisumu on Thursday morning, Ruto sidestepped an anticipated leaders’ meeting in Migori following reported internal wrangles among local politicians. The meeting, originally slated for the Sony Sugar Grounds, was meant to chart collaborative development strategies but has now been shelved.
Instead, the Head of State redirected his focus to infrastructure and economic transformation projects in Kisumu and Homa Bay. His first stop was at the recently completed LapFund affordable housing estate in Kisumu — a key flagship project under his administration’s housing agenda. A few blocks away, another government-led housing complex is quickly taking shape, contributing to a reshaped skyline and growing urban optimism.
From Kisumu, Ruto will head to Ndhiwa in Homa Bay County, where he is set to launch a series of projects, including the Gor Mahia Ring Road and a Sh2 billion Last Mile Electricity project. He will also lay the foundation stone for a new Technical Training Institute a move expected to significantly boost technical education access and youth empowerment in the region.
This whirlwind tour comes just days before the country marks Madaraka Day on June 1, with this year’s theme centred on ‘Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs’. The revamped Raila Odinga Stadium, named after the opposition leader and longtime regional political kingpin, will be the main venue for the celebrations. The facility now boasts new terraces, a modernized pavilion, improved parking, and a fortified perimeter wall — all part of a sweeping upgrade to match national event standards.
Road infrastructure has also seen a major facelift in readiness for the national event, with over 35 kilometers of roads improved through the coordinated efforts of KeNHA, KeRRA, and KURA.
The President is expected to spend the night at the Homa Bay State Lodge and preside over the closing ceremony of the Blue Economy Conference at Tom Mboya University on Friday. He will also commission a new academic building at the institution part of ongoing efforts to elevate the region’s educational infrastructure.
This visit, while laced with development promises, also carries clear political undertones as Ruto continues to court a region historically aligned with the opposition. With the spotlight on Nyanza ahead of Madaraka Day, all eyes will be on how the President’s overtures are received both by the local leadership and the public.
