President William Ruto is in Bomet today, Wednesday, September 9, 2026, for the beginning of a major development tour of Bomet and the wider South Rift region. The four-day tour, running from September 9 to September 12, is focused on inspecting, launching and commissioning development projects in Bomet and Kericho counties, with roads, healthcare, affordable housing, markets, water and other infrastructure featuring prominently. 

The President's arrival has generated significant excitement in Bomet, with Governor Prof. Hillary Barchok, local leaders, political figures and residents preparing to welcome him. The visit is particularly important because it provides an opportunity for residents to see progress on projects that have been under construction while also presenting their concerns and expectations directly to the national government.

Bomet County has increasingly become an important part of the national government's development agenda, especially because of its agricultural economy and the need for better roads, healthcare, water, markets and urban infrastructure. The President's programme therefore brings together both completed projects awaiting commissioning and ongoing projects requiring inspection and further government support.

Governor Hillary Barchok leads the welcome

Governor Prof. Hillary Barchok has been at the centre of preparations for President Ruto's visit. The Governor has welcomed the President's development tour and encouraged the people of Bomet to receive him warmly.

In a message announcing the tour, Barchok described the President's four-day development tour as an important occasion for Bomet County. The Governor's communication highlighted the scale of the planned engagements and the projects that the President is expected to inspect and commission. 

For Governor Barchok, the visit provides an opportunity to demonstrate the cooperation between the county and national governments. Several of the projects being highlighted during the visit require coordination between national government agencies and the county administration.

The Governor is also expected to accompany the President during several of the engagements and provide information about local development priorities.

Barchok's administration has consistently emphasised infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, water and urban development. The President's visit therefore gives the county government an opportunity to showcase projects that are expected to improve services and stimulate economic activity.

Residents prepare to give Ruto a warm reception

Residents from different parts of Bomet County have been preparing to welcome President Ruto. The President is expected to interact with residents at different stops during the tour, giving members of the public an opportunity to listen to his message and raise issues affecting their communities.

The anticipation is particularly high because the visit covers several constituencies and includes projects that directly affect ordinary residents.

Road users, farmers, traders, healthcare workers, young people and business owners are among those expected to benefit from the projects being showcased during the visit.

Residents are also interested in hearing the President's position on projects that have experienced delays. The visit therefore carries both a celebratory and accountability dimension: people want to see development achievements, but they also want explanations and timelines for projects that remain incomplete.

The Star reported that the tour is intended to showcase progress on government projects while giving residents an opportunity to raise concerns about stalled or ongoing developments. 

 *The role of local leaders* 

President Ruto's reception in Bomet is not limited to the Governor. Local political leaders and other community representatives have also been mobilising residents to welcome the Head of State.

Former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto has also called on residents of Bomet and neighbouring Kericho to warmly welcome President Ruto during the South Rift tour. This is significant because Isaac Ruto remains a recognisable political figure in the county and has historically been associated with Bomet's political leadership.

The involvement of political leaders from different backgrounds demonstrates the importance attached to the President's visit. While politics is inevitably part of such a high-level tour, the immediate focus in Bomet is on development and the projects expected to benefit local communities.

The visit is also attracting attention because Bomet has traditionally been an important political constituency for President Ruto.

Pastors and religious leaders

Religious leaders also form an important part of the community welcome.

Bomet has a strong Christian presence, and pastors and church leaders frequently participate in major public events involving national and county leaders. Their participation gives presidential visits an additional spiritual and community dimension.

The preparations for the President's visit have followed recent religious activities surrounding some of the major projects. On September 7, prayers and dedication were held at the Dr Joyce Laboso Mother and Child facility ahead of its expected commissioning.

The participation of pastors in such activities reflects the community's desire to place development projects under prayer while also emphasising peace and unity.

Religious leaders are expected to encourage residents to maintain peace and welcome the President in an orderly manner.

Itembe Airstrip among major projects

One of the key projects President Ruto is expected to inspect today is the Itembe Airstrip in Bomet town.

The President's programme begins with an inspection of ongoing works at Itembe Airstrip. 

The project has attracted considerable attention because improved air connectivity could transform transportation and business in the region. The airstrip is expected to support movement of people and goods while improving access to Bomet.

Earlier in 2026, President Ruto announced that the approximately Sh214 million Itembe Airstrip was expected to be completed and operational by December 2026. 

The inspection therefore provides an opportunity for the President to assess whether construction is progressing according to schedule.

For Bomet residents, the airstrip is potentially important for business, tourism, emergency medical transportation and faster movement between the county and other parts of Kenya.

Dr Joyce Laboso Mother and Child Hospital

Healthcare is one of the biggest highlights of today's programme.

President Ruto is scheduled to commission the Bomet Mother and Child Hospital, also known as the Dr Joyce Laboso Memorial Mother and Child Wellness Centre. 

The facility is named after the late Dr Joyce Laboso, former Governor of Bomet, and its commissioning is therefore expected to carry both development and emotional significance for residents.

The facility is intended to strengthen maternal and child healthcare services in the county. Its commissioning will be particularly important to women, children and families who require specialised healthcare.

The project also complements existing healthcare facilities in Bomet, including Longisa County Referral Hospital and other public and private facilities.

The prayers and dedication held on September 7 ahead of the President's visit were an important milestone. Religious leaders and members of the community gathered to dedicate the facility and pray for patients, healthcare workers and the wider community.

Roads within Bomet town

Road infrastructure is another major component of President Ruto's programme.

According to the published itinerary, the President is expected to commission roads within Bomet town after commissioning the Mother and Child Hospital. 

Roads are extremely important to Bomet because the county's economy is heavily dependent on agriculture. Farmers need reliable roads to transport tea, milk, vegetables and other agricultural products from farms to markets.

Improved roads can also reduce travel time, lower vehicle operating costs and encourage businesses to expand.

The road projects therefore have significance beyond transportation. They can contribute to trade, employment and the growth of Bomet's urban and rural economies.

Affordable housing project

President Ruto is also scheduled to commission an affordable housing project in Bomet town.

Affordable housing is one of the major pillars of the national government's development programme. The objective is to provide decent housing while creating jobs through construction and related industries.

In Bomet, the project is expected to contribute to urban development and provide opportunities for construction workers, suppliers, artisans and small businesses.

The President's inspection and commissioning of housing projects across the country have generally been used by the government to highlight its broader plan to expand access to decent housing.

Kiplokyi-Chebole road

The presidential programme does not end today. On Thursday, September 10, President Ruto is expected to return to Bomet and commission the Kiplokyi-Chebole road in Bomet Central. 

This road is important because it will improve connectivity between communities and commercial centres.

For farmers, better roads mean easier access to markets. For students, workers and patients, they can mean shorter and safer journeys.

The road project also fits into the government's wider strategy of upgrading rural roads to improve economic connectivity.

Chebunyo Economic Stimulus Programme market

Later in the four-day tour, President Ruto is scheduled to visit Chebunyo in Bomet, where he will inspect the Chebunyo Economic Stimulus Programme market. 

Modern markets are particularly important for small-scale traders.

The government has been investing in markets with the aim of providing traders with better facilities, improved sanitation, storage and more organised business environments.

In Bomet, such markets could benefit farmers and traders who depend on local markets to sell agricultural products and other goods.

The Chebunyo project is therefore part of a broader attempt to connect development infrastructure with local economic activity.

Kapkwen-Olbutyo-Siongiroi-Ndanai road

The President is also scheduled to assess ongoing construction along the Kapkwen-Olbutyo-Siongiroi-Ndanai road corridor.

This road links several areas of Bomet and is expected to improve the movement of people and goods. 

For agricultural communities, roads such as this are essential because they connect farms with collection centres, markets and urban areas.

The inspection will allow the President to assess progress and receive reports from officials responsible for the project.

 *Broader development agenda* 

President Ruto's Bomet tour is therefore not simply a ceremonial visit. It is designed to provide an opportunity to assess how government investments are translating into actual development.

The projects cover several sectors:

Healthcare: Dr Joyce Laboso Mother and Child Hospital and other health infrastructure.

Transport: Itembe Airstrip and several roads.

Housing: Affordable housing in Bomet town.

Trade: Economic Stimulus Programme markets.

Agriculture: Improved roads and market infrastructure supporting farmers.

Urban development: Roads and housing projects within Bomet town.

Economic activity: Infrastructure intended to create employment and improve business opportunities.

The Star's published programme confirms that roads, healthcare, affordable housing and markets are among the main areas of focus during the four-day South Rift tour. 

 *What residents expect from President Ruto* 

While residents are preparing to welcome the President, expectations are also high.

Many residents want to see projects completed within the promised timelines. They want roads to be usable, hospitals properly equipped and staffed, markets operational and water projects delivering reliable supplies.

The President's visit provides an opportunity for residents to communicate these expectations.

There is also an expectation that the Head of State will announce additional projects or provide timelines for developments that have experienced delays.

The visit is consequently being viewed as both a celebration and an opportunity for accountability.