Bomet County is today at the centre of attention as President William Ruto begins a four-day development tour of the South Rift region. The visit, scheduled for September 9–12, 2026, is expected to cover Bomet and Kericho counties, with the President inspecting, commissioning and launching a number of development projects. One of the key projects attracting attention is the rehabilitation of Itembe Airstrip, whose ongoing transformation is being closely followed by national and local leaders as well as residents. 

The visit has generated considerable anticipation in Bomet, with residents and political leaders preparing to receive the President. Former Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto has publicly urged residents of Bomet and Kericho to turn out in large numbers and warmly welcome President Ruto during the four-day tour. 

Davis Chirchir and the Itembe Airstrip project

Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport Davis Chirchir has a significant connection to the Itembe Airstrip project because his ministry oversees key transport institutions, including the Kenya Airports Authority and Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. Chirchir was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport in August 2024 and is responsible for the State Departments for Roads and Transport. 

The inspection of Itembe Airstrip comes at a crucial stage in the project's development. The facility, located in Nyangores Ward in Chepalungu Sub-County, is undergoing rehabilitation after years of limited or no meaningful aviation activity. The Kenya Airports Authority previously inspected the works and outlined the major components of the first phase of construction. 

According to the Bomet County Government, the rehabilitation includes upgrading the runway to approximately 1,000 metres by 18 metres of asphalt concrete, alongside the construction of taxiways and an aircraft apron. The project also involves drainage improvements, installation of a windsock, perimeter fencing and land acquisition required to bring the runway strip into compliance with aviation requirements. 

The project has been reported to have a value of approximately KSh214 million. President Ruto previously indicated that the government expected the facility to be completed in December 2026 and become operational before the beginning of 2027. 

Therefore, Chirchir's inspection is significant because it provides an opportunity for the national government to assess progress on the ground and ensure that the contractor remains on schedule.

Why Itembe Airstrip is important to Bomet

The rehabilitation of Itembe Airstrip is being viewed as more than simply an aviation project. Its supporters see it as an investment that could improve Bomet's connectivity with other parts of Kenya and potentially support economic activity in the wider South Rift.

One of the most important anticipated benefits is medical evacuation. Bomet is home to major healthcare institutions, including Tenwek Hospital and the Tenwek Cardiothoracic Centre. The Bomet County Government has previously highlighted the potential role of the upgraded airstrip in supporting medical evacuation operations. 

For critically ill patients requiring urgent specialised treatment, faster air transportation can be extremely important. An operational airstrip closer to major medical facilities could therefore complement road transportation and provide another option for emergency medical transfers.

The airstrip could also support business and tourism. Improved aviation connectivity can make it easier for investors, professionals and visitors to reach the county. Bomet's agricultural economy, particularly tea production and other commercial farming activities, could also benefit indirectly from improved regional connectivity.

The project is therefore being presented as part of a broader infrastructure agenda aimed at improving transport links and opening up economic opportunities.

 *President Ruto's previous commitment on Itembe* 

The President's planned visit comes several months after he made a public commitment concerning the airstrip.

In April 2026, while speaking in Kipketii during the burial of Edwin Kipchirchir Koech, father of Davis Chirchir, President Ruto said Itembe Airstrip would be completed in December. He linked the project to longstanding requests by residents for improved air connectivity. 

That commitment has given the current inspection additional importance. Residents will be watching closely to establish whether construction is progressing according to the government's promised timetable.

The President's arrival at the project site therefore provides an opportunity for government officials to demonstrate what has already been achieved and explain the remaining stages before the facility becomes operational.

Bomet leaders prepare to welcome Ruto

Ahead of the President's arrival, several leaders have been involved in mobilising residents and preparing the county for the visit.

Former Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto has called upon residents of Bomet and Kericho to give President Ruto a warm reception and turn out in large numbers. His appeal comes as the President prepares to move through several locations during the four-day development tour. 

The planned programme is extensive. On Wednesday, September 9, President Ruto is expected to begin his Bomet programme at Itembe Airstrip before proceeding to the Bomet Mother and Child Hospital. He is also expected to visit Bomet Town, inspect road projects, engage beneficiaries of the Affordable Housing Programme and address a public gathering. 

Other stops reported in the programme include Tegat in Bomet East and Mindililwet in Soin Sigowet. The itinerary demonstrates that the visit is intended to cover several sectors rather than focus exclusively on Itembe Airstrip.

The Star similarly reported that Ruto's four-day tour would involve inspections and commissioning of infrastructure and development projects in Bomet and Kericho, including roads, healthcare facilities, affordable housing and markets. 

 *Residents' expectations* 

For ordinary residents, the President's visit represents an opportunity to raise local development concerns directly with the national government.

While government leaders are likely to emphasise completed and ongoing projects, residents are also expected to focus on practical issues affecting their daily lives.

Among the issues likely to feature prominently are roads, healthcare, housing, employment, agriculture, markets and transport infrastructure.

Itembe Airstrip is particularly important to residents in the surrounding area because its rehabilitation is seen as a long-awaited transformation of a facility that had remained largely inactive for decades. Recent reporting indicates that the airstrip had previously fallen into disuse, with portions of the area reportedly being used for activities unrelated to aviation. 

Its revival has consequently become a visible symbol of the government's development agenda in Bomet.

Healthcare is another major focus

President Ruto's visit to Bomet Mother and Child Hospital is also expected to attract considerable attention.

Healthcare remains one of the most important issues for residents because the availability of quality maternal and child healthcare directly affects families across the county.

The combination of a modern healthcare facility and improved transport infrastructure could potentially strengthen access to healthcare services. Itembe Airstrip, for example, could complement road transport in emergency situations requiring rapid movement of patients.

The broader connection between healthcare and infrastructure is therefore likely to be one of the important themes surrounding the President's visit.

Roads and affordable housing

The President's Bomet programme is also expected to include inspection of road projects and interaction with beneficiaries of the Affordable Housing Programme. 

Road infrastructure remains particularly important for Bomet because agriculture is a major part of the local economy. Farmers need reliable roads to transport produce from farms to markets and processing facilities.

Better roads can also reduce travel times, improve access to schools and hospitals and make it easier for businesses to operate.

Affordable housing is another area where the national government's development programme is expected to be highlighted during the visit. The Bomet programme provides an opportunity for the President to interact with beneficiaries and assess the progress of housing developments.

A politically significant visit

Although the government is presenting the tour primarily as a development visit, the timing also gives it political significance.

With the country moving closer to the 2027 General Election, presidential visits to regions such as Bomet and Kericho inevitably attract political attention. Leaders are keen to demonstrate their relationship with the national government and their ability to attract development projects to their communities.

However, the focus of the official programme is expected to remain on development, project inspections and engagement with residents.

The call by Isaac Rutto for residents to welcome the President demonstrates that some local leaders want the visit to be characterised by a strong public reception. 

 *What residents will be watching at Itembe* 

When President Ruto arrives at Itembe Airstrip, one of the biggest questions will be whether the project is progressing fast enough to meet the December completion target.

The Kenya Airports Authority has previously stated that Phase One involves extensive work, including the runway, taxiways, apron, drainage, fencing and aviation-related installations. 

Residents will therefore be interested in the quality of the work as much as the speed of construction.

There is also likely to be interest in what happens after construction. Completing the physical infrastructure is only the first step. For the airstrip to deliver its promised benefits, it will need appropriate aviation operations, maintenance, security and sufficient demand for flights.

 *A major moment for Bomet* 

President Ruto's arrival today is consequently being viewed as an important moment for Bomet County.

The inspection of Itembe Airstrip by Davis Chirchir and other officials ahead of the President's visit demonstrates the importance attached to the project. It also allows the government to prepare for the President's inspection and establish the status of construction before he arrives.

The project has already been described by the Kenya Airports Authority as one of the Kenya Kwanza administration's major election pledges in Bomet. 

For residents, the expectation is that the President will not only inspect existing projects but also provide clear information about completion timelines and future development plans.