NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto has hosted a group of leaders from Bungoma County with a bag of goodies in a move to strengthen regional alliances, foster goodwill, and secure cooperation ahead of the August 2027 General Election.
During the meeting held at the State House, Nairobi, on Saturday, May 16, 2026, President Ruto announced that the ruling Kenya Kwanza government will subsidise seeds beginning the next financial year to boost production and also ease farming costs.
Agriculture is the backbone of Bungoma County, contributing over 44% to its Gross County Product and directly engaging about 70% of households.
The President pointed out that the government is committed to lowering the cost of production and increasing yields to make Kenya food secure.
“We are planning to subsidise seeds, just like we have been doing with fertilisers, to reduce the cost of production for farmers,” said President Ruto.
The region features highly fertile soils and receives reliable rainfall, making it a vital food basket in the Western region.
At the same time, the President said the government will establish a Level Six hospital in Bungoma County to provide highly skilled services nearer to the people and ease congestion at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
Addressing church leaders from Bungoma County, President Ruto said the ongoing rehabilitation of the Kakamega Level Six hospital will also revitalise the health sector in the region.
“I also secured an opportunity to construct two Level 6 hospitals, and because I have allocated public funds to our facility in Kakamega, which will be completed between October and November 2026, I have decided that the other Level 6 hospital will be constructed in Bungoma,” explained the head of state.
Why Bungoma needs a new referral hospital
According to President Ruto, there is a need to have a new referral hospital in Bungoma that will be equivalent to the MTRH in Eldoret.
“A team from the African Development Bank will come to Bungoma for a final visit for approval before we commence its construction. This new hospital will be among the most expensive hospitals in Kenya because it will cost KSh 8 billion. We plan to transform Kenya, and Bungoma is at the centre of the conversation,” added President Ruto.
On infrastructure development, he also announced the construction of an airport at Matulo, complete with a terminal building and an expanded runway.
“We will also be extending the runway terminal for Matulo Airport in Bungoma if we get additional land. Already, the ongoing expansion of the Kakamega Airport runway is 70% done,” the President explained.
At the same time, he urged the Church leaders to support the government’s transformation agenda, saying they should be at the forefront of making Kenyans understand that national transformation is possible if the right policies are implemented.
How President Ruto handled the debt equation
Enumerating the achievements of the government in the past three years, President Ruto said the government has stabilised the economy, ‘rescuing’ the country from the brink of debt default and propelling it from the eighth-highest to the sixth-largest economy in Africa.
In 2022, the President told members of the clergy that Kenya was listed among six African countries that were headed for debt default.
“When I took over the leadership of this country in 2022, the state of the economy was strained because of huge debts. But we managed to meet our debt obligations because of discipline and strategic planning,” President Ruto explained.
He said the transformation of the country depends on the implementation of productive programmes and projects such as affordable housing, food security and the provision of healthcare to everyone.
Regarding Universal Health Care (UHC), the President said reforms have led to the registration of 31 million Kenyans under the Social Health Authority (SHA), up from 7 million under the defunct National Health Insurance Fund.
Who attended the State House, Nairobi meeting
On agriculture, he pointed out that the country has received consistent rainfall for the past three years and, coupled with the provision of subsidised inputs and the cleanup of the sector, has increased production and productivity.
Additionally, the President commended growing national savings, saying the change of government policy from saving KSh 200 a month to saving 6% of each employee’s income and a similar amount from the employer has dramatically increased savings at the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
“For nearly 60 years, employees and employers saved KSh 312 billion. But since 2023, when we changed the saving structure, we have more than doubled what we had saved in 60 years. In February 2026, savings at NSSF stood at KSh 700 billion,” President Ruto disclosed.
In a few years, he noted, Kenya won’t be borrowing development funds from elsewhere. Instead, the country will be borrowing from the national savings and paying interest to Kenyan workers.
The meeting, which brought together bishops and other religious leaders from various denominations, underscored the government’s continued engagement with religious institutions as key partners in governance and community development.
What is the significance of religious leaders
Other than the religious leaders, the meeting was also attended by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka, and several MPs.
The President expressed appreciation for the longstanding relationship between his administration and religious leaders across the country. He noted that the clergy remains a critical pillar in promoting unity, moral guidance, and national cohesion.
“We are very proud of the relationship we have built with the clergy not only in Bungoma but also in the country,” he said.
President Ruto also acknowledged the role of faith leaders in complementing government efforts, noting that collaboration with religious institutions has been central to his administration’s approach.
The President reiterated his commitment to working closely with the clergy, emphasising that inclusive dialogue remains central.
Wetang’ula commended the transformation agenda across the country, saying the President was the right leader to take Kenya to a first-world economy.
“We appreciate the development taking place in Kenya, including the revival of the Mumias and Nzoia Sugar factories in Western Kenya,” Wetang’ula said.
The Speaker said the proposed hydroelectric power station in Bungoma is expected to produce over 45 megawatts of electricity.
Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka speaks
The Speaker explained that the project is aimed at boosting the national grid and enhancing sustainable power in the region. He also thanked President Ruto for directing that the Kisumu-Malaba section of the Standard Gauge Railway pass through Mianga in Bungoma.
Speaker Wetang’ula told the clergy to rally residents of Bungoma and Western Kenya to register as voters in large numbers to boost the re-election of President Ruto in 2027.
Governor Lusaka used the occasion to highlight ongoing development projects in Bungoma County, defending the government’s record in infrastructure development, health, and economic empowerment.
The county boss also pointed to continued investments in key sectors as evidence of progress in the region.
“From the government and the people of Bungoma, we honour you, we respect you, and we are campaigning for you. We are serving the people of Bungoma. Thank you for coordinating your personnel who are working in that region. We shall see how you have worked for us and how best we can reward you,” said Governor Lusaka.
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