President William Ruto on Sunday, October 2, 2022, made his first visit to Homa Bay County where he attended service at AIC Homa Bay Town.
It was the first time that Ruto was visiting the Nyanza region as the president and his presence attracted some sought of excitement amongst locals who warmly received him.
However, it was the absence of local leaders that have been the talk amongst Kenyans.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga said he was in Mombasa for official issues while area Member of Parliament Peter Kaluma claimed he received information of Ruto’s presence late.
In a tweet, Kaluma noted that he had no means to travel to Homa Bay as he was in Nairobi.
“Just got information that President @WilliamsRuto will be in Homa Bay today. Welcome. I’m unable to be with you due to a lack of means. Let there be better coordination in future so that the MP whose Constituency you’re visiting has information and is available to receive you,” Kaluma tweeted.
Only one elected leader from the Luo Nyanza region accompanied President Ugenya MP David Ochieng.
Receive the President
The absence of local elected leaders during the president’s visit has attracted critiisms from a section of Eldoret locals.
Joseph Keitany, one of the locals says he expected the county leaders to be in the forefront leading the public in receiving the president.
Another local, Andrew Tarus claimed political differences between Ruto and local leaders might be the reason they snubbed him.
Ruto is the Kenya Kwanza leader, while a majority of those in the region are allied to the Azimio coalition.
“We expected that the seniors would receive the president for the fact that he visited their own county. But we won`t judge it because in the first place, Wanga and Kaluma belong to the opposition and maybe they were playing their opposition role,” Tarus said.
Despite giving excuses for not being able to receive the Head of State, Homa Bay politicians have been under fire from a section of Kenyans.
Controversial lawyer Miguna Miguna wading into the subject said it was a typical day in Luo Nyanza.
“Meanwhile, Homa Bay County Governor, Gladys Wanga, sent messages to newsrooms that she couldn’t attend because she was “abroad” while she is swimming with @HassanAliJoho in Mombasa. The area MP, Kaluma, claimed he had no “ride” to Homa Bay. One typical day in Luo Nyanza,” tweeted Miguna Miguna.
Goodies to Homa Bay
Aside from the Ugenya MP, other MPs who accompanied the President were Mathias Robi(Kuria West), Marwa Kitayama (Kuria East) and Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu) as well as ICT CS nominee Eliud Owalo.
A number of former leaders, among them Jack Ranguma and Olago Oluoch were also president.
After the church service, Ruto addressed locals where he pledged among others Ksh2 billion for water and sanitation, the completion of 5 roads, and promised to return for the launch of 2,000 affordable housing project.
“I am coming back to Homa Bay next month to launch the first phase of the low-cost houses construction project where 400 houses will be built. The remaining houses will be built in other phases until the project is finalized,” he said.
