Expectant Kisumu residents welcome Ruto in Nyanza
President William Ruto will on Friday, January 13, begin his two-day working tour of the Luo Nyanza counties including; Kisumu, Homa Bay and Siaya.
Speaking to the media, Kisumu residents have welcomed the Head of State's first visit to the region with most of them hoping that the tour will bring development to the region.
"Sisi kama wakaaji wa Kisumu tumemkaribisha kwa roho safi na matumaini kua kuja kake kutaleta mabadiliko. Vijana wapewe kazi. Tunatumaini pia barabara zitamalizika na bandari ya Kisumu itatengenezwa ili iweze kusaidia vijana wapate ajira huko. Tunaomba pia Rais apate nafasi ya vijana waongee ana kwa ana.
"(We as Kisumu residents, welcome the President and we hope that the visit will bring change in this region. We want the youth to get jobs. We hope that roads under construction will be completed and the Port of Kisumu will also be finished so that youth can get jobs. We are also urging the President to get time to speak with the youth one-on-one," one of the residents said.
Kidero welcomes Ruto to Nyanza
Meanwhile, former Nairobi governor Evans Kidero has asked residents of Homa Bay to turn up in large numbers to receive the President.
While saying that the Nyanza region lags behind in terms of development due to less involvement of the government, Kidero noted that Ruto’s second visit to the county will be of great significance to Homa Bay and the entire region.
“We must tell the President that there is a complete change in thinking from the old traditional behaviour which portrayed the people of this region as irrational, hostile, and ungovernable,” part of his statement read.
He added: “The people of Homa Bay and by extension, the entire Nyanza Region moved on after the elections and even outsmarted their elected leaders by opening their hearts to embrace President Ruto and the government.” 
Ruto will on Friday tour Homa Bay County before retreating to Kisumu and later on Saturday, grace the homecoming ceremony of ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo.
