Governor Arati and MP Jhanda Rally Gusii Nation to Support Ruto Re-election

By Kepher Otieno - Reporter

Kenya, 18 December 2025 - Kisii Governor Simba Arati and Nyaribari Chache MP Zaheer Jhanda have urged Suneka residents in Bonchari Constituency to elect President William Ruto as he will be seeking his second term.

They mounted a robust defense of the Kenya Kwanza administration and urged residents to stay the course with the President’s development agenda.

Addressing a charged crowd at the Suneka stopover, the two leaders framed President Ruto as the most capable steward of the country’s economic recovery and grassroots transformation, arguing that continuity was essential for projects already underway to deliver tangible benefits.

Governor Arati said the government’s focus on devolved development, infrastructure, agriculture, and social protection was beginning to show results across counties, including Kisii.

“President William Ruto has demonstrated that he understands the needs of ordinary Kenyans,” Arati said. “What we are witnessing today are not promises; they are ongoing projects that are changing lives. For us in Kisii, stability and continuity are critical, and that is why we support his second term.”

The governor pointed to investments in roads, markets, water projects, and health facilities, saying the national government’s collaboration with counties had improved service delivery. He added that Kisii leaders would continue to work with the administration to ensure local priorities are funded and implemented efficiently. “We cannot afford to reverse the gains we are making. Ruto is the best choice to complete what has already started,” Arati noted.

MP Jhanda echoed the governor’s sentiments, describing the Kenya Kwanza government as responsive to the aspirations of ordinary citizens, particularly the youth, farmers, and small traders. “This government is implementing transformative development projects that are directly touching our people,” Jhanda said.

“From affordable credit for small businesses to support for farmers and infrastructure development, the impact is real.”

Jhanda argued that the President’s bottom-up economic model was gaining traction in rural constituencies such as Bonchari, where access to markets and improved roads had boosted local trade.

“When you look at what is happening on the ground, it is clear that President Ruto is delivering,” he said.

“That is why we are confident in telling our people that he deserves a second term.”

The Suneka meeting also served as a platform to call for unity among Kisii leaders across party lines, with Arati and Jhanda emphasising that development should supersede politics.

They pledged to continue mobilising support for government programs and to ensure that national resources reach grassroots communities.

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The show of support comes against the backdrop of intensified political activity by President Ruto in the Gusii region.

In recent months, the President has made repeated forays into Kisii and neighboring areas, appealing to residents to back his administration for what he describes as shared national and local benefits. His message, echoed by allies such as Arati and Jhanda, has centered on cooperation with the national government as the surest path to sustained development.

Ironically, Kisii finds itself at the centre of an increasingly complex political equation.

The region is set to field two prominent presidential hopefuls: former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, expected to run on a Jubilee Party ticket, and former Chief Justice David Maraga, who has also declared interest in the top seat. While their bids have generated excitement and a sense of regional pride, analysts warn that the dual candidacies could split the Gusii vote.

Such a split, political observers argue, could inadvertently hand President Ruto an advantage in the region, particularly if his allies on the ground capitalize on the rivalry between the Matiang’i and Maraga camps. With no clear consensus candidate, Ruto’s supporters believe the President could emerge as the dominant choice by default, especially among voters prioritizing access to government and development projects.

Attempts by some Gusii elders and leaders to persuade Matiang’i and Maraga to agree on a single presidential candidate have so far failed to yield results.

Veteran community elder Mzee Jackson Ogeto says the push for unity remains more aspirational than practical.

“There has been a lot of talk about consensus, but in reality nothing concrete has been achieved,” Ogeto said.

“Each camp believes it has a strong case, and that makes agreement very difficult.”

As the political landscape continues to evolve, Ruto’s camp appears determined to exploit existing divisions while projecting the President as a unifying national figure focused on delivery rather than regional rivalries.

For Arati and Jhanda, the message at Suneka was clear, that, continuity with the current administration offers Kisii the best chance to consolidate gains and secure further development as the race toward the next general election gathers momentum.