Mulembe Times
BUTERE, KAKAMEGA COUNTY — President William Ruto on Thursday began a four-day development tour of Western Kenya, accompanied by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, and a host of regional leaders, in a mission aimed at accelerating infrastructure, healthcare, and energy projects across the region.
The President kicked off his visit in Butere, Kakamega County, where he officially opened the Butere Level Four Hospital, a newly constructed facility designed to expand access to quality healthcare and strengthen the government’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.
During the launch, Dr. Ruto announced that the government would allocate KSh150 million to equip the new hospital with modern medical technology and pledged KSh1 billion for the completion of the Kakamega County Level Six Hospital, terming it a “game-changer” for health services in the region.
“We are ensuring that every Kenyan, regardless of their region, has access to affordable and quality healthcare. The people of Western Kenya deserve facilities that match their potential,” the President said.
In addition to healthcare investments, President Ruto unveiled a series of infrastructure and energy initiatives aimed at stimulating local development and job creation. These include:
- KSh2.2 billion to connect 34,000 households to the national electricity grid,
- KSh2.5 billion for the completion of ongoing road tarmacking projects, and
- KSh1.4 billion to finalize the construction of Bukhungu Stadium, a key sports and cultural landmark for Kakamega County.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, who joined the President throughout the Butere leg, praised the administration’s focus on tangible projects and urged leaders from the Mulembe Nation to support the development agenda beyond partisan politics.
“The President’s gesture of according the late Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga a state funeral has united Kenyans across political lines and demonstrated statesmanship,” Wetang’ula said, adding that national unity was crucial for progress.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between national and county governments to deliver results that “transform lives rather than divide politics.”
The Butere event brought together an unusual display of bipartisan unity, featuring Governor Fernandes Barasa, former Kakamega Governor and CS Wycliffe Oparanya, COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli, and several Members of Parliament led by Hon. Tindi Mwale. Their joint appearance signaled a rare moment of consensus in a region often characterized by political fragmentation.
Governor Barasa described the President’s visit as “a strong statement that Western Kenya remains central to Kenya’s development journey,” urging continued investment in healthcare, roads, and youth empowerment.
President Ruto is expected to continue his tour across Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia, and Trans Nzoia counties, where he will commission additional projects in health, infrastructure, education, and energy. According to State House, the tour underscores the Kenya Kwanza administration’s commitment to equitable regional development and its effort to build trust with local communities ahead of future political contests.
As the President’s convoy moves across the region, residents are watching closely to see whether the promises translate into completed projects — a key test for his administration’s delivery record in Western Kenya.
