President William Ruto is in Kisumu today, Sunday, September 13, 2026, as he begins a major development tour of the Nyanza region. The visit comes at a politically significant moment, but the official programme has been presented largely as a development and government-project inspection tour. The President's itinerary is expected to take him through Kisumu, Siaya, Migori and Homa Bay, with roads, housing, water, markets, security infrastructure and other public projects forming a major part of the programme. 

Today's programme began with President Ruto attending a church service at the Voice of Salvation and Healing Church (VOSH) in Kisumu. The service brought together national and county leaders, including Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and other senior government officials. 

The Kisumu visit is particularly important because it marks the beginning of the President's wider engagement with the Nyanza region. The four-day tour is expected to combine development activities with meetings with local leaders and residents. Authorities have also heightened security in preparation for the President's movements and the large public gatherings expected during the tour.

 *Today's church service in Kisumu* 

President Ruto's first major public engagement in Kisumu today was the Sunday service at the Voice of Salvation and Healing Church. The event attracted a large number of political and government leaders, demonstrating the importance attached to the President's visit.

Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o was among the leaders who joined the President at the service. Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Treasury CS John Mbadi and Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi were also present. Their presence gave the church service a strong national and regional leadership dimension. 

The church service was not simply a religious engagement. It also became an important platform for the President to speak about national unity, development and his administration's relationship with leaders in the region.

One of the major political messages emerging from the service was President Ruto's position on the relationship between his United Democratic Alliance and the Orange Democratic Movement. The President described UDA and ODM as partners within the broad-based government and spoke about the need to preserve the legacy of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. 

Ruto also stressed that Raila Odinga could not simply be replaced, arguing that the former opposition leader's political legacy was broader than an individual political position. This message is particularly significant because Kisumu and much of Nyanza have historically been associated with Raila and ODM politics. 

The President's presence at the church therefore carried both religious and political significance. His decision to begin the regional tour with worship allowed him to engage residents and leaders in a setting centred on faith, while also presenting his administration's message of cooperation and development.

 *The expected Kisumu programme* 

After the church service, President Ruto's Kisumu programme is expected to focus heavily on government development projects.

According to the published itinerary, the President will remain in Kisumu for the first part of the tour before moving to other Nyanza counties. His engagements are expected to include inspections, launches and commissioning of projects in different parts of the county. 

One of the major planned engagements is a meeting involving leaders and residents at the Kisumu State Lodge. Reports indicate that more than 10,000 leaders and delegates from across Nyanza are expected to participate in the major engagement. Such a gathering would give residents and local leaders an opportunity to present development priorities directly to the President. 

The President is also expected to inspect the Kisumu airport control tower in Kisumu West Constituency and commission the sub-county police headquarters. These activities reflect the government's focus on aviation infrastructure and security services as part of its development programme. 

Another important area of focus will be road infrastructure.

Roads are central to the Kisumu tour

Road development is expected to dominate a significant part of President Ruto's programme in Kisumu.

The President is expected to inspect road works along the Mamboleo-Miwani-Chemelil-Muhoroni and Kipsitet routes. The wider Kisumu-Chemelil-Muhoroni-Kipsitet road project has been identified among the major infrastructure projects being pursued by the government in the region. 

The Awasi-Katito road is another major project associated with the visit. Earlier reports indicated that the President was expected to launch or inspect the Katito-Awasi road as part of his Kisumu programme. 

For residents, road infrastructure is important because improved roads can reduce travelling time, lower transport costs and improve access to markets, schools and hospitals. Farmers can also benefit when roads make it easier to transport agricultural produce to markets.

President Ruto has increasingly used his regional tours to inspect projects physically and encourage contractors to complete stalled works. During today's Kisumu engagement, he said the government had paid nearly KSh250 billion owed to contractors, arguing that the payments had helped road projects resume across the country. 

Lake Victoria water and sanitation project

Water and sanitation are also expected to feature prominently during the Kisumu leg of the tour.

The President is expected to launch or commission the Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Project in Kisumu Central. The project is significant for a city and surrounding communities whose population and economic activities have continued to grow.

Reliable water supplies are essential for households, schools, hospitals and businesses. Better sanitation infrastructure is equally important because it helps reduce the risk of waterborne diseases and improves living conditions in urban and peri-urban areas.

The inclusion of the water project in the President's itinerary shows that the Kisumu tour is not limited to roads and political meetings. It is intended to showcase a broader development agenda involving infrastructure and essential public services.

Affordable housing in Kisumu

Affordable housing is another major component of the government's development agenda in Kisumu.

The Lumumba Affordable Housing Project is among the flagship projects associated with the Kenya Kwanza administration in the county. Reports ahead of the tour identified the project alongside major road infrastructure as one of the developments expected to receive attention during the President's visit. 

The affordable housing programme is designed to increase access to formal housing while also creating employment opportunities in the construction sector. The government's broader housing programme has been presented as both a housing initiative and an economic programme capable of supporting construction workers, suppliers, artisans and other businesses.

For Kisumu, the project is particularly important because of the city's expanding population and demand for affordable urban housing.

 *Why the Kisumu visit is politically important* 

Although the government has emphasised development, President Ruto's Nyanza tour also carries considerable political significance.

Kisumu and the wider Luo Nyanza region have traditionally been strong political bases for ODM and the late Raila Odinga. The President's current visit comes following closer cooperation between UDA and ODM under the broad-based government arrangement. 

The President's message during today's church service about preserving Raila's legacy and treating ODM and UDA as partners is therefore likely to attract considerable attention.

At the same time, the government is seeking to demonstrate that development projects are being implemented in areas that have historically been politically opposed to the President.

The visit therefore provides an opportunity for Ruto to argue that government development should not be determined by political affiliation.

 *Expected engagements beyond Kisumu* 

President Ruto's Nyanza tour is scheduled to continue beyond Kisumu.

The programme is expected to move to Siaya County, followed by Migori and Homa Bay. The tour is designed to cover all four counties of the Nyanza region. 

In Siaya, the President is expected to inspect projects including the Dhogoye Bridge in Bondo, the Sihayi-Bar Ober-Sega road, Siaya Hospital and the local stadium. He is also expected to inspect the Kodiaga-Fabiano-Usenge road project, the Kalandini-Ka Eljia road and the Asambo-West Uyoma water project. 

The tour is then expected to proceed to Migori County, where the President is scheduled to inspect the Stella-Sibuoche-Gogo road project in Uriri and the Kanyawanga-Kecyo-Madiaba road in Awendo. The programme also includes the Masaba sub-station in Kuria West and the Posta-Nyirongi road network in Suna East. 

The final major leg is expected to take President Ruto to Homa Bay County. Planned engagements include the Minambi Market in Kabondo-Kasipul, the Kendu Economic Stimulus Programme market in Karachuonyo, the Sindo ESP market and town roads in Suba South, as well as the Junction Kodoyo-Pier road network in Homa Bay Town. 

Security preparations

Security has been significantly increased across Nyanza ahead of the President's visit.

Regional Commissioner Onesmus Kyatha said security agencies had intensified preparations to ensure the President's tour proceeds peacefully. Officials have urged residents and political leaders to maintain peace during the visit. 

The security arrangements are important because the tour will involve large public gatherings and movements through several counties. Authorities have also appealed to young people and political leaders to avoid confrontations and allow residents to engage the President peacefully.

The government has described the tour as a working visit aimed at checking the progress of development projects rather than simply a political campaign tour.

Development worth billions of shillings

The scale of projects associated with the tour is substantial. Reports indicate that more than KSh220 billion worth of projects are being rolled out across Kisumu, Siaya, Migori and Homa Bay, covering areas such as roads, housing, markets, health, water and other infrastructure. 

This makes the tour important for residents because it provides an opportunity to assess whether previously announced projects are progressing as planned.

Local leaders are also expected to use the President's presence to request additional projects and raise concerns affecting their constituencies.

 *What residents are expecting from the visit* 

Residents across Kisumu and the wider Nyanza region are expected to focus on practical issues such as employment, roads, affordable housing, healthcare, water, markets, electricity and economic opportunities.

The President's development tour gives residents an opportunity to directly engage national government officials and push for projects that can improve their livelihoods.

Internal Security PS Raymond Omollo had urged residents to welcome the President and use the tour to advocate for projects capable of making a difference in the region. 

For many residents, the success of the tour will ultimately be measured not by the size of the gatherings but by whether the projects announced or inspected are completed and whether they improve everyday life.