President Dr William Ruto has demonstrated that Nyanza does not need one of its own to occupy the presidency or deputy presidency to benefit from government development programmes, Principal Secretary for Interior Dr Raymond Omollo has said.
Speaking during a town hall meeting between President Ruto and Nyanza leaders in Kisumu, Omollo said the meeting gave grassroots leaders, professionals and other stakeholders an opportunity to raise their concerns and hear the government’s plans for the region.
He described the engagement as unprecedented, saying it allowed people from the four counties of Luo Nyanza to interact directly with the president and their elected leaders.
“What we are doing today is unprecedented. It is something that for a very long time has never happened in this region,” Omollo said.
He said the government had demonstrated its commitment to Nyanza through development projects launched since Ruto took office, with more projects identified through consultations between the president and local leaders.
Dr mollo said the government’s approach had challenged the long-held belief that political power had to be held by someone from Nyanza for the region to benefit from national development.
“Today, in the history of this country, you have disabused that notion, that a Luo must be president, or even a deputy president, for the people from this region to benefit from what everybody else deserves,” he said.
Dr Omollo, who is among officials responsible for supporting the president, said he was confident Ruto had the interests of Nyanza at heart.
“I have no doubt in my mind that you have the best interest of this region,” he said.
He said some of the projects being commissioned during the president’s visit had been initiated at the start of Ruto’s administration, while others followed consultations between elected leaders and the president.
Dr Omollo said the government would continue engaging leaders and communities across Nyanza, adding that its development agenda extended to all parts of the country.
“And you’re not just doing it in Luo Nyanza region. You are doing it in every corner of the Republic,” he said.
He also called for peaceful political engagement, warning against the use of violence to settle political differences.
“We will not use violence to transact our politics,” he said.
Ruto’s engagement with Nyanza comes as his administration seeks to strengthen its ties with a region that has traditionally been associated with the political opposition.
Dr Omollo said Nyanza would continue to participate in national politics while pursuing its development interests.
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