Ruto to Tour Six North Rift Counties Ahead of Historic Mashujaa Day Celebrations in Eldoret

Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii, Senator Jackson Mandago and Woman Representative Gladys Boss Shollei have called on Kenyans to turn up in large numbers for President William Ruto’s development tour of the North Rift region ahead of the Mashujaa Day celebrations scheduled for October 20 in Eldoret.

The leaders said the presidential visit would provide an opportunity for residents to witness ongoing development projects, assess the government's progress in fulfilling its promises and engage directly with the Head of State on matters affecting their communities.

Speaking during a media briefing at Eldoret Sports Club on Saturday, the leaders said preparations were underway to ensure the region successfully hosts the President and welcomes visitors from across the country for the national celebrations.

Governor Bii described the upcoming Mashujaa Day celebrations as a historic moment for Uasin Gishu, noting that hosting the national event would place Eldoret and the wider North Rift region in the national spotlight.

He said the county leadership was mobilising residents to attend the presidential rallies and participate in activities lined up during the visit.

“We are very ready as a county, not just as a county government, but as a county. We are doing our best to mobilise people to attend the rally because this is very historical,” said Bii.

The governor noted that the region had a rare opportunity to host the national celebrations, urging residents to embrace the occasion and demonstrate their hospitality to visitors expected from different parts of Kenya.

Bii said the preparations went beyond mobilising crowds, adding that the event presented an opportunity for the region to showcase its development, tourism potential and capacity to host major national functions.

He further said the planned activities would include a major rally in Eldoret and another gathering in Ziwa, where the President is expected to address residents and commission development projects.

The governor urged residents, local leaders, businesspeople and other stakeholders to work together to ensure the celebrations are successful.

## Mandago outlines presidential development tour

Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago said President Ruto's development tour would cover six counties in the North Rift region: Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo.

According to Mandago, the President will use the tour to inspect ongoing projects, commission completed facilities and assess progress on development commitments made to Kenyans during the 2022 General Election.

“This is a development tour. The President has set aside this time to commission and inspect ongoing projects,” said Mandago.

He added that the visit would give the President an opportunity to communicate directly with residents about the progress of government programmes in different parts of the country.

Mandago said the President would begin engagements in Nandi County before proceeding to Uasin Gishu, where several projects in education, water, roads, electricity, healthcare, markets and affordable housing are scheduled for commissioning or inspection.

In Moiben Constituency, President Ruto is expected to commission the Kenya School of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), an institution expected to strengthen the training of instructors for technical colleges across the country.

Mandago said the establishment of the facility in Moiben was significant because of the need to expand the country's capacity to train qualified technical instructors to support the growing TVET sector.

He noted that the availability of adequately trained instructors was essential to ensuring technical institutions had the personnel needed to equip young people with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship.

The senator said the facility would also strengthen Uasin Gishu's position as an important centre for education and technical training in the region.

## Ziwa projects among key highlights

After the Moiben engagements, the President is expected to proceed to Ziwa, where he will commission Ziwa Dam II and the Siwa-Sirikwa-Ziwa road project.

Mandago said the President would also launch last-mile electricity connectivity initiatives and inspect Ziwa Level 5 Hospital as part of the development programme.

The projects are expected to address key infrastructure needs in the area, particularly water access, road connectivity, electricity and healthcare services.

The senator said investments in water infrastructure were important in improving access to reliable water supplies for households and supporting agricultural activities, while improved roads would enhance movement of people and goods.

He added that electricity connectivity would create opportunities for households, small businesses and entrepreneurs to adopt modern technologies and engage in value addition.

The planned inspection of Ziwa Level 5 Hospital is also expected to highlight the government's healthcare commitments and the need to improve access to medical services in the region.

Mandago said the President would later return to Uasin Gishu following further engagements in Nandi County, with additional projects lined up for commissioning and inspection.

## Affordable housing and markets on the agenda

In Kesses Constituency, the President is expected to commission a water project, launch last-mile electricity connectivity and inspect Kesses Level 4 Hospital.

The senator said the engagements would provide an opportunity to assess the progress made in expanding essential services and improving public infrastructure.

In Kapseret Constituency, President Ruto is expected to commission the Economic Stimulus Programme market, while the Pioneer affordable housing project is also scheduled for commissioning.

Mandago described the Pioneer affordable housing development as one of the projects that had transformed Eldoret's skyline, saying it demonstrated the scale of ongoing construction and investment in the city.

The President is also expected to commission the 64 Champions Market, which Mandago described as a major trading facility with the potential to strengthen commerce and support traders from Eldoret and neighbouring counties.

He said modern markets were important in providing traders with organised business spaces, improving the trading environment and supporting economic activities among small-scale entrepreneurs.

The programme will also include the issuance of Women Enterprise Fund cheques, alongside other government initiatives aimed at supporting economic empowerment and expanding opportunities for women-led businesses.

Mandago said the projects reflected the government's focus on infrastructure, enterprise development and access to essential services.

## Mandago challenges Kenyans to assess government promises

The senator said the development tour would allow Kenyans to evaluate the progress of projects promised by the government during the last General Election.

He noted that leaders seeking public office should be held accountable for their commitments and should demonstrate what they have achieved during their time in office.

Mandago cited affordable housing, electricity connectivity and healthcare as some of the priority areas in which the government was seeking to demonstrate progress.

He said the affordable housing programme was being implemented in several parts of the country, including the North Rift, with the aim of increasing access to decent and affordable homes.

On electricity, he said last-mile connectivity was intended to extend power to more households, enabling residents to improve their living standards and participate in income-generating activities.

He also highlighted healthcare investments, including the planned visits to Kesses and Ziwa hospitals.

Mandago said Uasin Gishu was also hosting the new Kiplombe Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital facility, which is under construction and is expected to strengthen referral healthcare services.

He noted that the President would not inspect the Kiplombe project during the current visit because of time constraints, adding that regional leaders had requested that it be included in a subsequent presidential tour.

The senator urged residents to attend the rallies and listen directly to the President's account of the government's development agenda.

“Our request to the people of this county is to turn up in large numbers so that they not only receive the President, but hear one-on-one from the principal who made the commitments,” he said.

## Shollei says tour will showcase government achievements

Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Boss Shollei said the presidential development tour would give Kenyans an opportunity to see government projects firsthand rather than rely solely on public debate and social media discussions.

Shollei said the visit was also an opportunity for President Ruto to account for his administration's performance and explain the progress made in implementing its development agenda.

She noted that some government programmes had previously faced criticism, but argued that the ongoing projects would allow residents to assess the situation for themselves.

The woman representative singled out the affordable housing programme, saying its implementation had progressed despite legal challenges that delayed its commencement.

She said the programme was intended to provide decent housing for Kenyans while improving access to essential amenities and creating opportunities within the construction sector.

Shollei explained that the housing units were designed to offer residents access to facilities such as electricity, clean cooking gas, internet connectivity and safe spaces for children.

She also said the programme had attracted considerable interest, with demand for available housing units reportedly increasing.

According to Shollei, the presidential tour would enable residents of Uasin Gishu and visitors from other parts of the country to see the housing developments and better understand how the initiative was being implemented.

She expressed confidence that the visit would help demonstrate the progress made under the current administration while giving residents an opportunity to assess the projects.

Shollei added that the development tour was important for the wider North Rift region, particularly Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Elgeyo Marakwet, which will be central to the presidential engagements and Mashujaa Day celebrations.

## Leaders invite Kenyans to explore North Rift tourism

Beyond the development projects, Mandago urged Kenyans to use the Mashujaa Day celebrations as an opportunity to explore tourism attractions in the North Rift.

He said Eldoret was increasingly becoming an important destination for visitors and called on Kenyans to look beyond traditional holiday destinations along the Coast.

“There is more to tourism than the Indian Ocean. We have a city here that is vibrant, and we have tourism activities that are attracting this nation,” Mandago said.

He cited paragliding opportunities in Elgeyo Marakwet as one of the attractions that visitors could explore during their stay in the region.

The senator encouraged visitors to arrive in Eldoret several days before the national celebrations and extend their stay to experience the region's hospitality, scenery and tourism activities.

He said the expected influx of visitors would provide opportunities for hotels, restaurants, transport operators, traders and other businesses to benefit from increased economic activity.

Mandago further noted that the region had accommodation options suited to different budgets, ranging from high-end hotels and resorts to camping facilities.

He said visitors could also consider staying in neighbouring towns, including Kapsabet and Kitale, while attending the celebrations in Eldoret.

The senator assured Kenyans that the region was prepared to welcome guests, adding that local residents were known for their hospitality.

He also said security agencies, including the county and regional administration, had assured leaders that preparations were underway to provide security during the national event.

## Eldoret prepares to host national celebrations

The leaders called on residents and stakeholders to work together in preparation for the October 20 Mashujaa Day celebrations, which are expected to attract national attention to Eldoret.

They said the event would offer the city an opportunity to showcase its infrastructure, hospitality industry, business environment and tourism potential while welcoming visitors from across the country.

The planned presidential tour is expected to place development projects in the North Rift at the centre of public discussion, with education, roads, water, healthcare, electricity connectivity, markets and affordable housing featuring prominently in the programme.

For Uasin Gishu, the visit comes as Eldoret prepares to host one of the country's major national celebrations, with local leaders hoping that the occasion will create lasting economic and tourism benefits for the region.

The leaders urged residents to participate peacefully in the planned activities and welcome visitors as the region prepares for the historic national event.