President Ruto Begins Six-Day Ukambani Tour Ahead of Mashujaa Day Celebrations.
Kitui, Kenya – October 15, 2025
President William Ruto has today embarked on a six-day development tour of the Ukambani region ahead of the Mashujaa Day celebrations scheduled for October 20 in Kitui County. The national holiday, which honors Kenya’s heroes and heroines, will this year be hosted in Kitui for the first time since its inception in 2010.
The Head of State’s visit will see him traverse Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui counties — the three counties that make up the Ukambani region — where he is expected to commission a series of infrastructure, water, and energy projects. His tour also aims to strengthen his government’s development footprint in the region widely considered the political stronghold of Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
According to a State House itinerary, President Ruto is scheduled to launch the Thwake Dam water supply system in Makueni County, open the newly completed Kibwezi–Kitui road, and commission several Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) projects in Machakos. He is also expected to preside over the groundbreaking of affordable housing units in Kitui town and inspect ongoing works at the Kitui Stadium, the main venue for the Mashujaa Day celebrations.
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura confirmed that the President’s visit is focused on accelerating service delivery and ensuring inclusivity in national development.
“The President is keen on ensuring that every region benefits from the government’s development agenda. Ukambani has been prioritized for major infrastructure and water projects to enhance livelihoods and spur economic growth,” said Mwaura.
Local leaders, including Governors Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos), Mutula Kilonzo Jr. (Makueni), and Julius Malombe (Kitui), are expected to accompany the President in various parts of his tour. The visit is also seen as a test of political influence between President Ruto and Kalonzo Musyoka, who has been vocal in criticizing the Kenya Kwanza administration’s policies.
Security has been heightened across Kitui County as preparations for the Mashujaa Day event enter the final stages. Hundreds of workers from the National Youth Service and local contractors have been deployed to give the Kitui Stadium and surrounding areas a facelift ahead of the national event.
President Ruto’s six-day tour comes amid efforts by the national government to foster unity and inclusivity across all regions, with emphasis on implementing key projects under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Mashujaa Day, one of Kenya’s three national holidays, is celebrated annually on October 20 to honor the men and women who contributed to the country’s struggle for independence and the building of modern Kenya.
