President Uhuru Kenyatta postpones three-day Kisumu tour after State House meeting
President Uhuru Kenyatta speaking to Kenyans at Harambee Avenue in Nairobi a few hours after he landed from The Hague, Netherlands where he had attended a status conference before the International Criminal Court in this picture taken on October 9, 2014. PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI
What you need to know:
- During the visit, the President is expected to launch a number of projects in Kisumu and chair a cabinet meeting.
- The move is seen as a strategic one to avoid disruption of President Kenyatta’s meetings as witnessed in Migori a month ago.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has postponed his three-day tour to Kisumu County that was scheduled to start Wednesday after meeting leaders from Nyanza at State House, Nairobi.
In a statement by the Presidential adviser Joshua Kutuny, the tour was put off to next week to allow for better preparations “to make the visit a success.”
During the visit, the President is expected to launch a number of projects in Kisumu and chair a cabinet meeting.
The leaders who attended the State House meeting Monday were Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma, MPs Ken Obura (Kisumu central), Fred Outa (Nyando), James Nyikal (Seme), Alago Aluoch (Kisumu West), Adums Owour (Nyakach), Kopiyo Koyoo (Muhoroni) and area Women representative Rose Nyamunga.
DISRUPTION
According to Mr Kutuny, the leaders welcomed the President’s initiative to spread his development agenda in all regions across the country regardless of political affiliations.
Mr Kutuny said the leaders who attended the meeting were in agreement that proper preparations ought to be done.
The move is seen as a strategic one to avoid disruption of President Kenyatta’s meetings as witnessed in Migori a month ago.
State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu however said the President rescheduled the tour to Nyanza as he had prior engagements.
“The first is the East African business summit, at which the President will be a key contributor. This year, the summit will be held in Kigali, 15-17 October 2014.
"The second pressing commitment is the commissioning of the Ol-Karia IV geothermal power plant. President Kenyatta will visit the site this Friday 17 October 2014 to commission the installation,” said Mr Esipisu in a statement Tuesday.
He said President Kenyatta was committed to visiting Nyanza and “is consulting widely with elected leaders from the region”.
He said new dates of the President’s visit will be announced after another schedule is agreed upon.
The President’s function was disrupted by rowdy youths a month ago, forcing him to hurriedly conclude it.
The Migori Primary School grounds incident that saw chairs and shoes thrown towards the presidential dias triggered transfers of most senior security officers in the county.
Deputy President William Ruto was in Migori last Sunday in what was seen as a charm offensive visit to woo the Luo community ahead of President Kenyatta’s visit.
President Kenyatta's three-day visit has split leaders from the region with some welcoming it and others saying they were uncomfortable.
