President William Ruto seems to be counting on the backing of Raila Odinga’s strongholds to bolster his re-election bid, especially as his support in the Mt Kenya region appears to be waning.

Ruto is scheduled to visit Migori County on Sunday, May 4, 2025, for a two-day tour focused on development.

Analysts suggest that while the visit will highlight infrastructure projects, it also carries significant political implications, potentially signaling shifts in alliances.

This marks President Ruto’s fourth visit to the Luo Nyanza region since 2022, but unlike his previous trips, this one takes place under the new framework of cooperation between him and long-time opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Prior to the tour, Ruto held a key meeting with local political figures at State House, Nairobi, on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, to finalize logistics and plans for project unveilings.

The visit comes after the March 7, 2025, signing of a formal cooperation agreement between Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Raila’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), a deal that has shifted the political landscape in a region historically seen as a stronghold of opposition politics.

Once seen as unfriendly ground, Migori—and the wider Nyanza region—has now been embraced by the ruling coalition as a key partner in development.

The newfound collaboration between President Ruto and Raila Odinga, which took root with Raila's bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship, has grown into a strategic political alliance that could significantly influence the 2027 presidential election.

President Ruto, during his two-day tour of the region, is set to unveil several major development initiatives, including the tarmacking of the Stella–Gogo–Sibuoche road and the launch of a 200-unit affordable housing project in Uriri Constituency.

President Ruto is set to begin his tour of Migori County this Sunday, starting with an interdenominational church service at Kadika Primary School.

His visit will cover several constituencies, including Suna East, Suna West, Rongo, Uriri, and Awendo.

Among the leaders welcoming the president are National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, a close ally of Raila, and Uriri MP Mark Nyamita, who has openly supported Ruto’s leadership and development initiatives.

During a press briefing on May 2, Uriri MP Mark Nyamita emphasized that the Luo Nyanza region remains committed to backing Ruto through the 2027 General Election and beyond.

"For me, for the people of Migori and for the larger people of Nyanza, as far as I know, we are with President Ruto now, in the next election, until after that. Why, because for the first time we have a president, you can imagine less than three years he has come to Migori four times," Nyamita said.

The lawmaker sharply contrasted the current administration with previous ones, highlighting that Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and Mwai Kibaki only made one brief visit each to Migori during their combined two decades in power.

"Uhuru Kenyatta visited Migori just once in 10 years for a mere two hours. Mwai Kibaki, during his 10 years in office, also made only one visit, where he planted a tree in Sony and quickly left. Over the span of 20 years, we had just two presidential visits," Nyamita remarked.

"They didn't understand the county's challenges or its people. But now, under President Ruto, this marks his fourth or fifth visit to Nyanza. Every time he comes, there's always a meaningful gesture left behind."

The Uriri MP recently commended the development initiatives spearheaded by President Ruto in Nyanza, highlighting that the president’s visit also includes talks about expanding the runway at Migori airstrip.