President William Samoei Ruto has stepped up efforts to consolidate political support in northern Kenya, saying his administration is deliberately involving all regions in national development to unlock the country’s full potential.
Speaking after meeting leaders from Isiolo County led by Governor Abdi Guyo, Ruto said Kenya had previously failed to achieve its full potential because some regions were excluded from national transformation.
“Kenya has lagged behind its full potential for not harnessing the energy of all regions in nation building. As a result, we have made a deliberate decision to incorporate all parts of Kenya in national transformation so that, together, we can rise beyond our potential,” he said.
The meeting also brought together the newly elected Mohamed Tubi, who won the Isiolo South parliamentary seat on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, further strengthening the ruling party’s presence in the region.
During the discussions, Ruto outlined a raft of projects planned for the county, including road construction, affordable housing, modern markets, hostels for college students and an urban renewal programme for Isiolo town.
The engagement comes at a time when the President has intensified political outreach across the country as he seeks to shore up support for his administration ahead of mounting political competition and criticism from opposition leaders.
Northern Kenya has increasingly become a battleground for influence among national leaders, with the region’s governors and MPs emerging as crucial allies in shaping parliamentary numbers and political alliances.
Isiolo is also strategically important due to its role in the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor, a multi-billion-shilling infrastructure plan expected to transform trade and transport links between Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan.
Political observers say development promises and high-level meetings with county leaders have become a key tool for the national government to strengthen alliances at the grassroots while countering critics who accuse the administration of favouring certain regions.
The President has defended his approach, insisting that his government is focused on equitable development and inclusive growth across the country.
