President William Ruto is on an extended development tour of the North Rift that will take him through six counties before he leads this year's Mashujaa Day celebrations at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret on Tuesday, October 20.

The tour covers Trans Nzoia, Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo-Marakwet, West Pokot and Baringo. According to The Star, it opened on Saturday in Endebess, Trans Nzoia, where the President was scheduled to inspect the Endebess–Matumbei road and the mother and child unit at Endebess Sub-County Hospital. KBC describes the programme as a 10-day tour that began in earnest on Monday in Nandi and Uasin Gishu, while The Star puts it at 11 days counting the opening stop.

Monday in Nandi and Uasin Gishu

On Monday the President was in Tinderet constituency, Nandi County, where his itinerary included commissioning the Maraba Modern Market, inspecting several rural roads and Meteitei Hospital, and flagging off a last-mile electricity connection project. In Aldai, he was scheduled to inspect the Kaptumo affordable housing project and open the Kaptumo market.

In Uasin Gishu, the programme listed the commissioning of the Kenya School of TVET's Moiben campus, the Ziwa Dam 2 project and the Sirikwa–Ziwa Machine road, as well as a visit to the Ziwa Level Five hospital in Soy constituency.

What else is on the itinerary

The published schedule shows a heavy focus on infrastructure and land. Highlights include:

  • Roads: launches and inspections of road projects in Marakwet East, Baringo North, Kacheliba, Pokot South, Kiminini, Keiyo South, Eldama Ravine and Mosop.
  • Title deeds: the issuance of 6,300 title deeds in Elgeyo-Marakwet on October 15 and a combined 11,493 in West Pokot the following day, according to The Star.
  • Housing and markets: affordable housing sites in Kaptumo, Chepkorio, Kabarnet, Iten, Kitale, Nandi Hills and Eldoret, and economic stimulus markets in several towns.
  • Education and health: Kenya Medical Training College facilities in Iten, Kapenguria and Eldama Ravine, a foundation stone for Kabarnet University College, and a new mother and child unit at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital.

The President is expected to hold meetings at Eldoret State Lodge on October 19, the eve of the national celebrations.

Mashujaa Day preparations

President Ruto announced in July that the 2026 Mashujaa Day would be held in Eldoret and co-hosted by Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had earlier indicated that Kamariny Stadium in Iten would host the event, before the venue was moved.

The Star reported on Monday that upgrade works at Kipchoge Keino Stadium were about 78 per cent complete, with regional leaders insisting the venue would be ready in time.

Political undertones

The tour has not been free of politics. Kenya Kwanza leaders, including CS Murkomen, have accused Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya of frustrating the President's programme in the county, a claim the governor has rejected, saying he has no power to stop the Head of State from visiting.

The North Rift, President Ruto's political backyard, is expected to be a key battleground in his bid for re-election in the August 10, 2027 General Election, and the tour is being closely watched as an early test of his standing in the region.

Photo: Shadychiri / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0