Kisii gubernatorial aspirant Dr. Ezekiel Machogu Ombaki has criticized President William Ruto, accusing him of recycling promises instead of delivering tangible development during his recent four-day tour of the Gusii region. In a statement issued Thursday, the former Education Cabinet Secretary said many of the President’s pledges on infrastructure, markets, and water projects amounted to “rhetoric,” noting they mirror commitments made during previous visits that remain largely unfulfilled. Machogu cited stalled progress at Suneka Airstrip as a key example, alleging that contractors often appear briefly during high-profile presidential visits before abandoning the site. He also questioned the lack of progress…
Author: Magati Obebo
President William Ruto concluded his four-day extensive development tour of Kisii and Nyamira counties on Wednesday, expressing the government’s commitment to delivering on the promises it made to the people. The President said the government’s focus will not be derailed by the opposition’s tribal, divisive, and abusive politics. He asked the opposition to present their agenda to Kenyans, saying the electorate will make a decision based on each leader’s track record. “Stop hurling insults. Stop the politics of tribalism and hatred,” he said. “Do not waste your time telling Kenyans about William Ruto and other leaders. Kenyans know us, and…
The government has reduced Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel products from the rate of 16 per cent to 8 per cent to cushion Kenyans from high fuel prices, President William Ruto has announced. The President said the directive will be implemented for the next three months. Other measures taken by the government, he said, include the release of Sh6.2 billion to further moderate prices and keeping the prices of kerosene unchanged. He gave an undertaking that the government will continue monitoring the conflict in the Middle East – between the United States and Israel on the one hand, and…
President William Ruto assured Kenyans that the country has sufficient fuel stocks, even as transport operators across the country implement sharp fare increases following a rise in pump prices. Speaking in South Mugirango on Wednesday, Ruto announced a Sh6.5 billion subsidy aimed at cushioning consumers from escalating global fuel costs. “The subsidy will ensure that prices remain manageable and that Kenyans do not bear the full weight of global increases,” he said. The President also revealed that the government has reduced Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products in a bid to ease pressure on households and businesses already grappling…
The United Democratic Alliance and Orange Democratic Movement will continue to work together to deliver transformation across the country, President William Ruto has said. The President said the Broad-Based Government is the driving force behind accelerated development in the country. “We will continue uniting the country and preaching peace under the broad-based arrangement,” he said. President Ruto made the remarks nn the second day of his development tour of Kisii and Nyamira counties on Monday. On the opposition, the President accused the leaders of threatening to plunge the country into chaos should they lose the next election. “We cannot allow…
Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba has sought to recast William Ruto’s upcoming tour of the Gusii region as a development-focused mission, downplaying suggestions of political mobilisation at a time of heightened national activity. Speaking on Saturday, Ogamba said the President’s multi-day visit will prioritise inspection of flagship government projects and the rollout of new initiatives targeting infrastructure, education and healthcare—sectors the administration has consistently cited as central to its economic agenda. “This visit is about delivering on the government’s development agenda. The President will engage wananchi and assess progress on key projects,” Ogamba said, signalling a deliberate attempt to frame…
The war of words between Kisii Governor Simba Arati and gubernatorial hopeful Ezekiel Machogu intensified on Thursday, as the two leaders traded fresh accusations amid rising succession politics in the county. Arati, who toured Bomachoge Chache as part of a renewed grassroots charm offensive, accused the former Education Cabinet Secretary of presiding over inefficiency and graft during his previous public service roles—claims he did not substantiate. For the past two days, the governor has used bursary distribution events to rally support for his re-election bid while simultaneously taking aim at Machogu, widely seen as a potential challenger in the upcoming…
Kisii gubernatorial hopeful Ezekiel Machogu has fired back at Governor Simba Arati, dismissing recent attacks on his age and accusing the county boss of presiding over leadership failures. In a statement issued Thursday, the former Education Cabinet Secretary criticized Arati for diverting attention from key governance issues to what he termed as trivial and disrespectful political rhetoric. “Leadership is not about age; it is about service delivery and accountability,” Machogu said, insisting that the focus should remain on tangible development outcomes. Machogu was responding to remarks by Arati, who had warned him to brace for a tough contest in the…
Kisii Governor Simba Arati has warned rivals eyeing his seat in the 2027 General Election to prepare for a fierce political contest, declaring that unseating him will not be easy. Speaking on Wednesday in Nyamarambe, Arati said his development track record has already won over residents and would propel him to an even more decisive victory in his re-election bid. In a direct jab at former Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, the governor said his rival’s political relevance had waned, urging him to consider stepping aside for younger leaders. “There comes a time when one must step aside and allow…
A political storm is brewing in Kisii County after former Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu launched a scathing attack on President William Ruto, accusing him of stalling key development projects just days before his anticipated visit to the region. Speaking on Tuesday during the Youth Bunge Sacco annual delegates’ conference at Karmel Park in Kisii, Machogu—now a gubernatorial hopeful—criticized the President for what he termed as a pattern of launching projects with fanfare only for them to be abandoned midway. “His visits are largely inconsequential if projects he launches with pomp and fanfare everywhere are abandoned halfway,” said Machogu. “Sound…
The political contest for the Nyaribari Chache parliamentary seat in Kisii County is gaining momentum following the entry of former university lecturer Dr Birundu Mogendi. Dr Mogendi joins a widening field of aspirants that includes former area MP Richard Tongi and Okongo Nyambane, all seeking to unseat incumbent Zaheer Jhanda of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). The three hopefuls have launched parallel campaigns across the constituency, each positioning themselves as the best alternative ahead of the next general election. Dr Mogendi, a lecturer-turned-consultant, has anchored his campaign on grassroots mobilisation. Addressing residents on Sunday, he urged voters—particularly the youth—to register…
Political campaigns in Kisii County gained momentum Friday, with several aspirants sharply criticizing Governor Simba Arati while outlining their own development agenda and rallying support for Dr. Fred Matiang’i’s presidential bid. Gubernatorial aspirant Ezekiel Machogu said Arati’s administration has done little to show off despite receiving an estimated Sh60 billion in allocations during his time in office. He accused the governor of rhetoric rather than delivering tangible development. “You cannot preside over billions of shillings and still ask citizens to be patient. Development must be seen and felt. Roads, hospitals, and jobs are not promises—they are rights,” Machogu said. The…
Pressure is mounting on the Nyamira County Department of Health Services to explain the circumstances surrounding the discovery of 33 bodies in a cemetery in Kericho, in a case that has raised serious concerns about the handling of unclaimed bodies across county lines. The issue was formally brought before the Nyamira County Assembly during Wednesday’s sitting, where Rigoma MCA sought a comprehensive statement from the Health Department, demanding accountability and clarity on what is increasingly being viewed as a systemic lapse. The discovery in Kericho has sparked public concern, particularly after it emerged that 13 of the bodies are believed…
At dawn, Kisii wakes with promise—shops open, matatus rev, and boda bodas line up for the day’s hustle. But by mid-morning, that promise collapses into chaos. Traffic grinds to a halt, pedestrians squeeze through shrinking walkways, and the town’s rapid growth begins to feel like a burden rather than a blessing. Over the past decade, Kisii has transformed from a quiet trading post into a bustling commercial hub. Modern buildings, banks, and businesses now dominate spaces that were once simple paths. But the infrastructure beneath this growth tells a different story. Roads designed for a smaller population now carry an…
As the clock ticks down to the anticipated visit by President William Ruto, the fight for inclusion in the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has escalated into a high-stakes political contest in the Gusii region—laying bare divisions among leaders and raising broader questions about equity, influence, and development. At the center of the storm is Ikonge, a modest but strategically located town in Nyamira County that has suddenly become a symbol of regional inclusion—or exclusion—in one of Kenya’s most ambitious infrastructure projects. For weeks, anxiety has been building across Gusii following reports that the latest SGR route design does not feature…