President William Ruto has postponed his highly anticipated development tour of the Ukambani region, which was initially slated to commence on May 21, 2025. The move comes following a consultative meeting held at State House with elected leaders from the counties of Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui.
The week-long tour was expected to feature a series of high-profile engagements, including visits to major infrastructure projects such as Konza City, Thwake Dam, Wote Stadium, and the commissioning of the Emali–Ukia Road. The President was also scheduled to inspect the progress of the Kibwezi–Kitui–Bondoni Road, particularly the Kwa Siku to Bondo section.
However, after Tuesday’s meeting, it was collectively agreed that broader consultations among Ukambani leaders were necessary before proceeding with the tour. Labor Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, who participated in the meeting, said the President emphasized the importance of inclusive dialogue with all leaders from the region to align the development agenda with local priorities.
“Following a highly successful consultative meeting with the President and senior government leaders from Ukambani, it was agreed that a broader engagement should be held before the planned development tour,” said Mutua.
Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka echoed these sentiments, noting that a larger meeting involving all key regional leaders would be held with the President ahead of the rescheduled tour. The expanded engagement is set for Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at State House, Nairobi.
In a statement, President Ruto reaffirmed his commitment to inclusive development, emphasizing that his administration remains focused on grassroots engagement and bottom-up economic transformation. “Our objective is to deliver inclusive growth from the bottom going up,” he said.
The President also highlighted that discussions with the leaders centered on critical infrastructure priorities in Ukambani, including roads, water, education, affordable housing, and market development pillars that are key to unlocking the region’s economic potential.
This is not the first time Ruto has met with Ukambani leaders. On March 27, he held a similar engagement, underscoring the importance of collaborative leadership across political divides for national transformation.
