President William Ruto has defended his administration’s development record during a tour of West Pokot County, taking a swipe at the opposition, whom he accused of lacking a clear agenda for the country.
Ruto made the remarks on Friday, October 16, 2026, during a development tour that involved inspecting ongoing and completed projects in road infrastructure, trade and education.
The President inspected the Kopach River–Marich Pass Road, which is expected to improve connectivity between communities in West Pokot and ease the movement of people and goods.
He also visited the Sigor Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) Market, where he assessed progress on the project and highlighted the government’s efforts to support small-scale traders and expand economic opportunities at the grassroots.
In Kapenguria, Ruto inspected the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) students’ hostels and laid the foundation stone for the project, which is expected to provide additional accommodation for students.
The tour was overshadowed by a disruption at a development meeting in Sigor, where rival political groups reportedly clashed, bringing the gathering to an abrupt halt.
Some attendees hurled stones, soil and water bottles towards leaders addressing the meeting, forcing Ruto to step down from the top of his vehicle as security personnel moved in to contain the situation.
The incident highlighted tensions surrounding political mobilisation in the region as leaders begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Despite the disruption, Ruto continued to defend his administration’s development agenda, accusing his opponents of concentrating on political activities instead of presenting what he considers a credible alternative for the country.
The West Pokot visit forms part of the President’s wider development tour of the North Rift, where he has been inspecting infrastructure projects and highlighting his administration’s investment priorities.
However, the confrontation in Sigor cast a shadow over the tour, underscoring the political divisions emerging as the country approaches the next general election.
