Having attracted the president's eyes, Machakos County leaders must now seize the opportunity and lay their interests before him.
President Uhuru Kenyatta is this month scheduled to visit the county as part of his much-awaited tour of Ukambani.
While speaking to Nakuru residents during the Madaraka Day celebrations, the president announced that the Mashujaa day event will be hosted in Machakos County.
Critics argue that Machakos leaders should stop politicising these visits and instead take advantage of them to negotiate better deals and development projects that will help the common people.
They should not be arguing who will welcome the president but should instead work together as leaders driven by a common cause.
With Machakos perennially gripped in problems of water shortages, the leaders must take advantage of the visit and ensure the president addresses it fully.
My Kenyatta is expected to interact with leaders and residents of Machakos, Makueni and Kitui counties and exchange views on the region's development needs.
He is also expected to inspect water projects and give a charter to Machakos University.