6 Projects William Ruto Will Launch In Western Kenya During 5-Day Tour: "Industrial Park, University Library"

• President William Ruto arrived in Western Kenya on Saturday, August 26, to start a five-day development tour in the region
• The president is set to commission an Affordable Housing project worth billions in Kakamega county, Industrial Park in Bungoma among other projects
• Ruto is also expected to chair a Cabinet meeting at Kakamega State Lodge next week as the climax of his Western Kenya tour

President William Ruto has kicked off a five-day tour of the Western region starting Saturday, August 26, in a move seen as his charm to fully win the region's support.

William Ruto's Western Kenya tour

The head of state is expected to launch several development projects in Bungoma, Kakamega, Busia and Vihiga counties during the tour.

Local leaders led by Chief Prime Cabinet Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangu’la are expected to accompany the president.

Governors Ken Lusaka (Bungoma), Fernandez Barasa (Kakamega), Wilber Otichillo (Vihiga) and Paul Otuoma (Busia) alongside local MPs largely from the Azimio la Umoja faction and MCAs are also expected to be ushering the president to their backyards.

All Cabinet Secretaries are also expected in Western as the President is scheduled to hold a cabinet meeting at Kakamega State Lodge early next week.

The five-day development tour has elicited a cocktail of emotions with Opposition leaders in the vote-rich region dismissing it as a mere political rally meant to excite locals with “false promises”.

But what exactly will the president be launching during the five days he will be traversing the Mulembe Nation? Here is a list of key projects the head of state will be presiding over.

1. Mulukhoba Fish Landing Site

The KSh 124 million project commissioned under the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs is part of the government’s commitment to boost the economy of the fishing community in the Western region.

The facility has been fitted with sufficient cold rooms and enough storage spaces to allow fishermen to go about their businesses without incurring losses that emanate from storage challenges.

This will also enhance value addition as fishermen will no longer be compelled to sell their products at throw-away prices to avoid losses.

The government is also expected to offer more support to the fishing community by working closely with Beach Management Units to establish cooperatives that would boost the fishing business and make it more profitable.

2. Alupe University College Library

The government has been pumping resources into the historic Busia-based institution since its inception in July 2015.

In 2021, the University Principal Prof Fabian Esamai said the government had remitted a total of KSh 600 million to boost the imitation’s infrastructural development.

The new three-storey ultra-modern library set to be opened by the president is one of the mega projects that the government has been implementing at the institution.

It is estimated to cost a whopping KSh 190 million and can accommodate up to 500 students at once.

3. Bungoma County Industrial Park

The idea for the construction of the Bungoma County Industrial Park was conceived by former governor Wycliffe Wangamati but failed to take off.

Wangamati’s administration allocated KSh 175 million for the project but details of how the monies were spent remain scanty.

TUKO.co.ke understands there were disagreements over a 103-acre piece of land in Webuye where the park was to be constructed.

The matter has since been resolved and the project moved to Sang’alo where the president is expected to visit and preside over the ground-breaking ceremony.

Governor Ken Lusaka’s administration has allocated KSh 100 million for the project and the national government is expected to pump in a similar amount to facilitate construction works.

The park is expected to boost the economy of Bungoma county, create jobs and reduce unemployment.

4. Affordable housing in Lurambi

The affordable housing project is at the core of President William Ruto’s legacy agenda for the county.

The Standard reported that the Kakamega and Mumias town projects would gobble KSh 8 billion.

During the five-day tour of the Western region, the president will launch the construction of a 220-unit affordable housing project at Milimani Estate in Lurambi, Kakamega county.

The project is part of the national government’s plan to address the challenge of housing in the country and ensure every citizen has access to a decent shelter as required by the constitution.

Kakamega county needs about 3000 units to address the crisis and plans are already underway to put up more houses in four other estates in Lurambi and Mumias towns.

5. Inauguration of Emuhaya Sub-County Hospital

The 90-bed facility will be officially opened by the president together with area Governor Wilber Otichillo.

The hospital has been equipped with ultra-modern facilities such as a theatre, ultrasound machines, X-Ray laboratory, a well-equipped orthopaedic laboratory and a dental unit.

It is expected to ease congestion at the Vihiga county Referral Hospital

6. Nzoia Sugar Company tour

Nzoia Sugar Company factory has been grappling with a lot of challenges in the recent past and the president is expected to visit the company and hold a private meeting with the management with a view to turning around its fortunes.

Ruto is also scheduled to meet with sugarcane farmers and address their concerns, particularly regarding delays in payments and the dwindling fortunes of the sugar industry in the region.