President Uhuru Kenyatta today took his re-election campaign to the Ukambani region accompanied by a host of leaders who decamped from the opposition to back Jubilee.
The President started his three-day tour of the region with an intensive meet-the-people tour of Kitui County, where he was accompanied by MPs John Munuve (Mwingi North), Joe Mutambo (Mwingi Central), Victor Munyaka (Machakos Town) and Rachael Nyamae (Kitui South). They are some of the sitting Members of Parliament who have ditched the opposition to support President Kenyatta and seeking re-election on Jubilee Party ticket.
The President and his Deputy William Ruto were also accompanied by Jubilee's candidate for Governor of Nairobi, Senator Mike Sonko, whose parents hail from Ukambani.
Over the next two days the President will traverse the Ukambani region where he will be joined by elected leaders and veteran politicians backing his re-election bid.
In his expected tour of Machakos County, the Head of State will be flanked by Governor Alfred Mutua who abandoned the opposition to team up with Jubilee. They will also be joined by candidates vying for all elective positions in Machakos County on Maendeleo Chap Chap Party.
Speaking at Ciampiu in Mwingi North, President Kenyatta said the Jubilee Government has strived to unite all Kenyans and that is why it has given positions of leadership to many individuals from communities previously overlooked by other administrations.
"Our mission is to build a united Kenya. We have left our opponents to continue engaging in the game of insults," said the President.
The President said the Jubilee Government has a robust plan to develop the region including the construction of dams that will support irrigation and provide enough water for domestic use.
He announced that the Government will drill five boreholes to serve the residents while they await the construction of the dams.
The President also announced that the Government has allocated Sh10 million for constructing dormitories for Tharaka Girls Secondary School in Ciampiu.
He also assured residents that the Government will ensure that the area is covered by telephone networks within the next few weeks.
The President further added that the Government has accepted a request by the Mwingi North MP to create Tharaka District to bring services closer to the people.
“You deserve to have a district so that you can access Government services and I have instructed the Regional Commissioner to undertake the preliminary work of designating the headquarters,” said the President.
The Deputy President said the Jubilee Manifesto launched earlier in the week contains more plans to boost the development of the area.
"This area is productive and has a river passing nearby. In our Manifesto, we are targeting to build a dam here to support irrigation," said DP Ruto.
He said the opposition has no plans to support agricultural production in the country and has only talked about building food stores.
"They have no plans for dams or any other plan to support production. Will you vote for Jubilee which plans to build dams for irrigation or those who want to build empty stores?" said the Deputy President.
MP Munuve said the people of Ciampiu, which is at the centre of the Tharaka region of Kitui County appreciate the President's visit.
"When history is written you will be remembered as the first President to ever visit Tharaka. These are the people I have told you about who were forgotten by all previous governments," said Mr Munuve.
Mr Sonko urged voters in the region to support President Kenyatta if they want to continue benefitting from a Government that cares for all Kenyans.
"President Kenyatta has included many people from Ukambani in his Government. He is also the person who enabled me to become the Senator of Nairobi and now the next Governor of Nairobi. We should not be left behind," said Mr Sonko.
The President started his tour of Kitui County at Mutomo where he inspected the construction of the key 192 kilometres road that runs from Kibwezi to Migwani through Mutomo and Kitui.
Local leaders and residents have expressed excitement with the Jubilee Government's development initiatives in the county.
The upgrade of the Kitui Level 5 Hospital to the status of a referral hospital, part of the Government's nationwide overhaul of medical services, is one of the initiatives residents have benefited from.
The Government has also upgraded the Mwingi Hospital under the Managed Equipment Services where two hospitals in each county have been provided with modern equipment including dialysis machines, cancer screening machines ICU and theatre.
The Government has also supported the infrastructure improvement of schools in Kitui with the Kitui School benefiting from a Sh24 million boost to build a new administration block and general renovation.
The President also launched the Kiambere-Mwingi Water Supply project funded at a cost of Sh 1.4 billion.
The President later addressed rallies in Mwingi and Kitui towns.