NAIROBI, March 31 (AGCNewsNet) – Kenyan President William Ruto will embark on a five-day working tour of Central Kenya from Tuesday to Saturday, where he is expected to launch, inspect, and commission multiple development projects across nine counties.

The tour—his first in the region since August 2024—will cover Laikipia, Nyeri, Meru, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua, Murang’a, Embu, Tharaka-Nithi, and Kiambu. The projects on his itinerary include road infrastructure, affordable housing, electricity connectivity, fresh produce markets, and irrigation initiatives, according to a draft schedule seen by AGCNewsNet.

In Nyeri and Meru, Ruto will distribute title deeds to residents of Kieni and Tigania West constituencies to enhance land ownership security. He will also assess progress on County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPS) in Laikipia West and Githunguri (Kiambu), as well as a Special Economic Zone in Maragua (Murang’a). The CAIPS initiative—implemented in partnership between the national and county governments—aims to establish 47 industrial parks, one per county, at a cost of KSh 500 million ($3.8 million) each.

Water and sanitation projects will also be a key focus of the visit, with Ruto set to inspect ongoing works in Igembe South (Meru), Maragua (Murang’a), and Mbeere North (Embu). Additionally, he will tour livestock feedlots in Tigania West and South Imenti (Meru) to evaluate efforts to strengthen Kenya’s livestock value chain for export markets in the European Union and the Middle East.

Ruto’s itinerary includes a visit to JM Memorial Hospital in Ol Kalou (Nyandarua), the only Level 5 facility in the county, which is being developed in partnership with the national government. He will also tour Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) in Kangema (Murang’a) and commission police housing units in Chuka Igambang’ombe (Tharaka-Nithi).

Other key inspections include the Kiambere Bulk Water Project in Mbeere South (Embu) and the ongoing construction of the Mau Mau Road in Lari (Kiambu), a major transport artery connecting Central Kenya to Rift Valley. The president is also set to launch modern fresh produce markets in Kieni (Nyeri), Laikipia East, Igembe South, Tigania East (Meru), Kirinyaga Central, Kinangop (Nyandarua), and Chuka Igambang’ombe (Tharaka-Nithi).

Additionally, he will oversee Last Mile Electricity Connectivity projects in Laikipia West, Kieni (Nyeri), South Imenti (Meru), Kirinyaga Central, Ol Kalou (Nyandarua), and Manyatta (Embu).

Ruto’s visit comes amid growing political tensions in Central Kenya following the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, a move that has fueled resentment in the region. Gachagua has urged residents to demand financial compensation from mobilizers before attending the president’s events, claiming the visit is politically motivated.

"If you are going to listen to lies, ensure you get a good price for it. Do not accept little money to be deceived. President Ruto has brought money because we elected him for free," Gachagua said on Saturday at a church event in Naivasha, Nakuru County.

Despite the political undercurrents, the government insists the tour is focused on development and service delivery.

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