Bungoma County is set for a major socio-economic transformation following a raft of development initiatives worth over KSh34 billion unveiled by President William Ruto during his three-day development tour of the region.
Speaking during the groundbreaking for the Bungoma Smart City at the Kanduyi degazetted airstrip, the Head of State outlined an ambitious development blueprint spanning housing, infrastructure, health,energy, education, and agriculture.
President Ruto said the Smart City project will be a game-changer in positioning Bungoma as a regional economic hub, noting that it will feature 4000 affordable housing units, modern malls, and key social amenities including hospitals and schools.
“With such transformative initiatives, Bungoma will never remain the same again,” said President Ruto.
The President further announced the ongoing construction of modern markets across the county aimed at boosting small-scale traders, alongside the development of student hostels in higher learning institutions. He noted that the hostel projects will benefit over 7,500 students by providing conducive and affordable accommodation.
In the energy sector, President Ruto revealed that more than 26,000 households in Bungoma will be connected to electricity under the national electrification programme, a move expected to spur rural industrialization and improve livelihoods.
On infrastructure, the Head of State said the National Government, in collaboration with the County Government of Bungoma, is fast-tracking the expansion of Matulo Airstrip in Webuye to enhance commercial transport and unlock economic opportunities in the region.
Addressing the agricultural sector, President Ruto assured Nzoia Sugar farmers that the government has streamlined operations within the sugar industry, guaranteeing timely payments and the resumption of sugarcane bonuses.
“Our reforms in the sugar sector will ensure that farmers are paid promptly after delivering their cane and begin to receive their long-awaited bonuses,” he stated.
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka lauded the President for what he termed as a historic and transformative development tour, saying the projects will significantly uplift the county’s economic trajectory.
Governor Lusaka urged the President to expedite the completion of key infrastructure projects, including the Dorofu–Sang’alo–Musikoma and Misikhu–Brigadier,Mayanja-Bisunu-Sirisia roads, noting their critical role in enhancing connectivity and trade.
“Once these projects are completed, the impact will be immense. Bungoma is firmly on a transformative path,” Lusaka said.
The Governor, who also serves as President Ruto’s Western Kenya re-election coordinator, rallied residents to support the President’s 2027 re-election bid, expressing confidence in his development track record.
“No former President has served a single term, and President Ruto will be no exception. His development agenda is firmly steering this country towards a Singapore-like trajectory,” he added.
The multi-billion-shilling investment signals a renewed push by the national government to accelerate equitable development in the Western region, with Bungoma emerging as a key beneficiary of the administration’s bottom-up economic transformation agenda.
By Anthony Solly
