President William Ruto pledged to work with leaders and residents across the country, regardless of political affiliation. He said his administration aims to deliver development to every region.
Speaking during a church service at ACK St. Martin’s Cathedral in Kitui County on Sunday, Ruto said he wanted to collaborate widely but noted that he could not force political actors to cooperate.
“It is my wish to work with everybody. Of course, you cannot force people to work with you, and that is their decision,” Ruto said.
The president also defended his decision to form the broad-based government, arguing that it promotes national unity and helps ensure that no region gets left out of development.
“I have made a commitment that we are going to work with everybody in Kenya, and that is why I formed the broad-based government,” he said.
Ruto then reassured residents of Kitui and the wider Ukambani region that they have a stake in his administration, even if their political leanings differ from his.
“I want to assure Kitui residents and Ukambani at large that this is your government. You have your place in it now and in the future. This is your government, and I will work for you,” he said.
The president said his administration deliberately kept Kitui and the entire Ukambani region at the heart of its development agenda.
“While we drive development across the country, I made sure Kitui and Ukambani remain central to it. We want to move forward together,” he said.
He urged Kenyans to reject divisive politics and ethnic mobilization, arguing that national progress depends on unity.
“Do not let people divide us. Do not accept negative ethnicity. We are one people, one nation with a common destiny,” he said.
Ruto also indicated that he plans to visit the region more often and assured Ukambani residents that his administration will not abandon them.
“Get used to me because I will keep coming more often. I will not let you go by any means. Ukambani has dragged behind for too long. I will not allow Ukambani to remain behind while the country moves forward,” he said.
The President added that development should reach every Kenyan equally, noting that people in Kitui contribute to the national economy through taxes like citizens elsewhere.
“People in Kitui pay taxes like the rest of Kenyans. We must build in every part of Kenya,” he said.
Ruto blamed years of divisive politics for slowing the country’s development, saying national progress suffered because leaders focused on political competition instead of working together.
“We have had bad politics that has held the country back from moving forward. That is why we remain stuck as a country,” he said.
He said equitable development will only happen when leaders collaborate across political and regional lines.
“If we work together, we will all succeed. No region will be more successful than the other,” he said.
