As the country’s political realignment continues and new centres of influence emerge, questions abound about whether President William Ruto’s four-day development tour of the Northeastern region will consolidate support outside his traditional strongholds in the 2022 elections.
The President, who last year formed a broad-based government after a wave of Gen Z protests and incorporated opposition figures, is now courting regions that previously opposed him.
Meanwhile, Mount Kenya, a key voting bloc that propelled Ruto to victory, appears to be slipping away as his former Deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, consolidates support away from the Kenya Kwanza government.
A week ago, Ruto spent five days in Western Kenya, launching development projects and engaging with residents in a bid to win over a region that overwhelmingly backed Raila Odinga in 2022.
This week, the President is touring North Eastern counties, a region that has received fewer presidential visits in the past, as part of his agenda to promote equitable economic development across the country.
Yesterday, Ruto signed a Presidential Proclamation to officially abolish Identification Cards vetting for residents of the Northeastern region.
The President said the move will see the residents of Northern Kenya acquire national identification documents with ease.
Ruto termed the signing of the Presidential Proclamation on Registration and Issuance of IDs to Border Counties as an end to unjust and disenfranchising practices.
“If it’s about vetting, let all children of Kenya be vetted equally without any discrimination. We want the people of Northern Kenya to feel equal to the rest of the country,” he said.
The President added that for years, residents of Northeastern have endured extra-vetting and ethnic profiling by the State before they acquire birth certificates and national identity cards.
Could this be a move to gain more votes by ensuring that many people in Northern Kenya obtain National IDs?
Moreover, the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry Aden Duale hailed Ruto for the move on easy issuance of Identification cards, and passports to the people of Northern Kenya.
“For over 50 years, we were told that we could not get IDs and passports until we were vetted. Neither Moi, Kibaki, nor Uhuru’s regime has done what you have done for us. But thanks to you, President Ruto, all Kenyan children are now equal when it comes to the issuance of birth certificates, IDs, and passports,” Duale stated.
Reaffirming his support for Ruto, Duale urged residents to vote for Ruto in 2027 and ensure he secures a second term in office.
In order to woo the pastoralist community, the President flagged off the vaccination and the National Livestock Restocking programmes targeting vulnerable families who lost animals during the drought and El Nino seasons that affected the country not long ago at Bula Barwaqo, Wajir Town.
He also urged pastoralists to vaccinate their animals to combat diseases that have prevented Kenyan meat from accessing markets abroad.
On roads, the President said the government will tarmac 750km of the road that traverses the three counties at Sh100 billion in partnership with the African Development Bank, the World Bank and the Arab Bank.
“This country belongs to all of us, and we must develop all corners of Kenya equally,” he said.
Mandera County, which has 217,023 registered voters, according to the 2022 IEBC voters’ register, is a familiar battleground for Ruto.
In the 2013 elections, Ruto’s now-defunct United Republican Party (URP) dominated North Eastern Kenya.
Now, as he seeks to reignite his influence through the UDA party, he faces stiff competition from the United Democratic Movement (UDM) led by Mandera Senator Ali Roba.
Garissa County, where the President is scheduled to hold a Cabinet meeting today, has 201,473 registered voters, while Wajir has 207,758 voters.
Marsabit County has 166,912 registered voters, while Isiolo has 89,504, according to the 2022 IEBC register.
With the abolishment of identification card vetting for Northeastern residents, we anticipate an increase in the number of registered voters, making the North Eastern region a viable battleground for votes in 2027.
