By Anderson Ojwang’

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has become a political pariah in Nyanza and has emerged as a political tool to de-campaign his allies ahead of the 2027 general elections.

While other presidential hopefuls including President William Ruto, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, and Martha Karua of the Peoples Liberation Party, among others, are welcomed, Gachagua remains a persona non grata in the community.

Unlike the late Raila Amolo Odinga and his father, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, who suffered the political consequences of the Mt Kenya oathing against their quest for Kenya’s leadership, Gachagua dug his own grave.

Just as Raila was the black sheep of Mt Kenya’s politics and a potent campaign arsenal which caused many of his associates their political careers, Gachagua has today assumed a similar role in the current political dispensation in the lake region.

Homa Bay MP Peter Kaluma wrote on X handle: “Our Mt Kenya brothers took oath back in 1969 that presidency would never go beyond Mt Kenya. For this reason, whenever the presidency goes to a person outside Mt Kenya, they frustrate, create anarchy and fuel civil unrest.”

The politics of shareholdings and traps

Gachagua now has a date with destiny in his quest for Nyanza votes over the reality of the past when he was the country’s second most senior person in the administrative pecking order.

During his tenure in the office of Deputy President, he rubbed both leaders and the public the wrong way.

Gachagua, while in office, took to criticising Raila and even said that he had laid traps in State House for Raila to negate his entry to meet with President William Ruto.

For instance, during the burial of Mau Mau veteran General Mathenge in Nyandarua, Gachagua took issue with Raila for asking him to allow ongoing consultations between Azimio and the Kenya Kwanza Government.

Raila then said at the funeral: “If we can hold consultations, that is in order. Riggy, there is no harm in people talking. Let people have talks, even if you don’t want to hear my word, just listen to what I say. We don’t want half a loaf. What and which kind of bread? I do not want to become Deputy President. I don’t want to be Prime Minister. I am not interested. Stop panicking. I have not spoken or even met Ruto.”

But Gachagua responded: “Former Prime Minister, we have not rejected consultations and talks, but we fear you. The reason is that you came and had a handshake with our son, former President Uhuru Kenyatta. He was a good person. He loved and worked for us. But when you got into a handshake with him, he changed. We from Mt Kenya fear you. Be like your father, who helped us in the fight for the land that belonged to the Mau Mau and was taken away. Those who have possessed those lands are your friends. Help us get back the land.”

Rejected overtures, a signal of a black sheep

After his impeachment, Gachagua said that he had been mandated by the Mt Kenya people to look for a political formation that will bring power to the people.

“I was looking at it with a few strategists from the region. Raila’s numbers are more exciting. Because Raila already has 6.8 million votes. We only beat him by only 200,000 votes. If we agree to support him, we could – I told you – with his 6.8 million and our 6 million votes, if you look at his voting pattern, he normally votes between 10.00 am and 11.00 am. If we agree to support him, before he votes, he will be the president. That you can take to the bank,” he said in a recent interview.

“I want our people to remain quiet so that we can get what we want going forward. Those who are making noise in the opposition told us that they were in the government of shareholders. They said they have shares. They told us that they have shareholding in the government. Some have more shares while others have the least. Now that they have left the government after their fights, they have come to us so that we may join them in order to make us president. But they are forgetting that when they were in the government, they used to abuse us. They did not know that we are a people who matter. Now at this time, they are in a fix. They want us to join them. They now say that they want to give you the presidency. Bloody bastard,” he said.

Absence at Raila’s funeral

Gachagua remains the senior most politician in the country who never attended Raila’s burial and has never paid homage at his graveside.

While top leaders and Kenyans of all shades of life have paid homage, Gachagua’s absence has cemented the belief that he is anti-Raila, both in life and death.

But Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa then said Gachagua’s silence and absence during Raila’s farewell were not a sign of defiance or indifference, but an act of respect and statesmanship.

Karungo said Gachagua’s decision reflected an understanding of the solemnity of the moment. “Kenya does not stop when Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua chooses silence,” he wrote. “It listens even more closely.”

He said Gachagua’s absence allowed the country to focus on celebrating Raila’s contribution to Kenya’s democracy.

“By choosing to step back, Gachagua ensured that the spotlight remained where it truly belonged – on Baba’s journey, sacrifice, and contribution,” he said.

Demonstrations

The recent demonstrations which have rocked most parts of Mt Kenya region have not been replicated in Nyanza.

Nyanza has remained calm as the restive Mt Kenya went to the streets, with ODM leaders led by party leader Dr Oburu Oginga and National Chairperson Gladys Wanga thanking the residents for avoiding demos.

“I am happy that this time our people were not on the streets. We have witnessed several deaths, and now let other people also take the lead,” Wanga said.

By Hon. Fatuma Ibrahim Ali

Growing up in Wajir, I often felt like a guest in my own country – a distant observer of a national identity I couldn’t quite touch. On every Madaraka Day, we would huddle around radios, listening to the echoes of celebrations in very far corners of Kenya, never daring to imagine that one day, the national stage would be set here in Wajir, North Eastern Kenya. We were told that independence meant the end of “us versus them,” a new dawn of equality for all Kenyans. But for the people of North Eastern, that promise remained elusive. Instead, we endured decades of systemic neglect, the trauma of state-led violence, and a culture of suspicion that forced us to constantly prove our “Kenyaness.” We were frequently labelled “insurgents” and treated as outsiders, even as we remained deeply rooted in our Kenyaness. Today, that narrative is being dismantled.

Since the inception of the 2010 Constitution of Kenya, only nine counties have hosted Madaraka Day celebrations. Wajir County in North Eastern Kenya will make history as the 10th county to host this historic celebration. Wajir is no longer a peripheral observer of our nation’s celebrations; we have become a stakeholder in Kenya’s history. This moment represents the arrival of the great equalizer, a long-overdue declaration and demystification that the freedom won by all our forefathers belongs as much to the North as it does to the rest of the country.

Today, a 10,000-seater stadium stands complete, built by the same military that once guarded the borders against us, and a new State Lodge now rises – a place where a president can finally sleep among the citizens of North Eastern Kenya. This is a profound, if complex, sign of reconciliation and recognition of citizens’ rights. For decades, the security uniform was a symbol of public scare, a harsh reminder of the ‘insurgent’ labels and the trauma of the many massacres of North Eastern Kenya, particularly the 1984 Wagalla Massacre. To see the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) lead the construction of these facilities is a shocking but necessary shift. It creates a new dialogue: we are moving from an era where the state’s presence was measured by checkpoints to one where it is measured by infrastructure and civic access. By building here, the military and the state are signalling a transition from keepers of the perimeter to partners in our development. We are finally being invited into the Kenyan house, and we are being given the keys to our own part of it.

Across Wajir town, the signs of this transformation are impossible to miss. Beyond the Ksh 900 million investment in the new stadium, featuring a full-sized football pitch, an eight-lane athletics track, and modern spectator amenities, we have seen a rapid upgrading of critical road networks, the installation of a series of solar street lights, and the expansion of Wajir International Airport. For decades, our potential remained locked behind poor connectivity. Today, these projects are the arteries of a new, 24-hour economy. We are no longer defined by what we lack, but by the potential we are finally being empowered to unlock.

As the inaugural Woman Representative for Wajir, I spent my tenure advocating for the foundational promise of devolution – the idea that resources and dignity should be brought closer to the people. Devolution was our first real attempt to equalize the playing field, decentralizing power and resources to finally give Wajir County a voice in its own development. Hosting this national celebration is a significant scale-up of that vision. This milestone is a testament to an evolving political maturity led by His Excellency President William Samoei Ruto, clearly reflecting a bipartisan consensus between the two broad-based political parties that finally recognize the importance of inclusivity and devolving national celebrations from Nairobi to counties. North Eastern Kenya is now not just a region to be visited during campaign seasons or crises, but a vital engine of our national economy. It is the transition from being mere participants in our own governance to becoming central architects of the national agenda. By sitting at the table in our own capital, we are moving beyond the struggle for basic allocation and toward a new era of national influence, where North Eastern is no longer a place that requires special pleading, but a region that contributes to national development.

Yet, we remain under no illusions. This stadium and these roads should not be the end of our journey; they are the starting blocks. As we look beyond the pageantry of June 1st, we call upon the national government to ensure this momentum is sustained. Partner with us – and with Wajir’s neighbours in Garissa, Mandera, Isiolo, Marsabit and Turkana – so that we may tackle the perennial menace of drought, access to reliable electricity, education, and water security with the same urgency used to build this stadium. This must be the beginning of a deliberate, region-wide investment in sustainable infrastructure and economic initiatives that finally empower our pastoralist communities.

To our fellow Kenyans across the republic, Wajir and North Eastern are no longer the distant frontiers you read about in headlines. We are now a vibrant heartland – a land of untapped potential, unique culture, and resilient people. We invite you to come and see for yourselves the new face of the North. We are proud to host the nation, and we are even more eager to prove that when the North is given its rightful place at the table, all of Kenya rises. Today, we are not just guests; we are finally, unequivocally, home.

The writer is a member of the COIN-10 Committee; former Wajir Woman Representative (2013–2017) and former East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP

By Anderson Ojwang

After the 10 February 1984 Wagalla massacre by the Kenya Army, on Monday President William Ruto will preside over the healing and reconciliation of Wajir and open a new chapter in the region with infrastructural development.

Madaraka Day, a special day in Kenya’s historic calendar as the day the country attained internal self-rule from the British colonial administration, will on Monday see the Wajir celebration mark a new chapter and dawn between the Kenya Army and the community.

The Madaraka celebration in Wajir is significant not only to the region but nationally, as it will heal old wounds and help erase the sad memories of the 1984 massacre.

During the massacre, government troops were ordered to stop clan violence in the area and did so by first detaining some 5,000 locals at an airstrip, denying them food and water for a week, and then shooting them. The massacre was not investigated by the Kenya government until 2011.

President Ruto’s healing and reconciliation

Internal Security Permanent Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo recently led the National Celebrations Steering Committee on an inspection visit of Wajir Stadium and related infrastructure in Wajir County.

“The visit focused on assessing preparedness for the national event, including stadium readiness, logistical arrangements and supporting facilities to ensure a smooth and dignified celebration. With rehearsals already underway, teams on the ground are fine-tuning coordination, movement and programme flow to guarantee seamless execution on the day of the celebrations,” he said.

In the team were the Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, General Charles Kahariri, host Governor Hon. Ahmed Abdullahi, colleague PS Ummi Bashir (Culture, Arts & Heritage), Principal Secretary for National Government Coordination in the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Ahmed Abdisalan, and Wajir East MP Hon. Adan Daud.

He said the decision to hold the celebration in Wajir was part of the national policy to rotate key celebrations across regions and promote inclusive development.

“Wajir Town hosting this year’s Madaraka Day marks a historic first for the North Eastern Region,” he said.

Development

Dr Omollo said in preparation, the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) were on the ground upgrading critical road networks to bitumen standards – an intervention that not only supports the successful hosting of the event but also unlocks long-term gains in trade, connectivity and urban growth.

“The upgraded corridors are being designed to sustain a vibrant 24-hour economy, integrating modern features such as solar street lighting and clearly marked pedestrian crossings to enhance mobility, safety and accessibility within the town,” he said.

The PS said in tandem, the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration was playing a key role in ensuring that these urban improvements were grounded in safety and order, reinforcing secure public spaces and coordinated operations that support both the event and the town’s continued transformation.

First stadium

Dr Omollo said from independence, Wajir has never had a stadium, relying instead on open, undeveloped grounds such as Wajir Baraza Park for community events and public gatherings.

“Sixty-two years later, under the leadership of H.E. President William Ruto, the town is witnessing a transformative shift, demonstrated in the rapid progress of the Wajir Stadium, now 84 percent complete,” he said.

Dr Omollo said works were being fast-tracked ahead of the June 1st Madaraka Day celebrations, positioning the facility as both a national event venue and a long-term asset for sports development in the region.

“Managed by the Ministry of Defence through the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), the ultra-modern complex is on course for timely completion, allowing adequate time for national rehearsals,” he said.

He said the 10,000-seater stadium features a full-sized football pitch designed for artificial turf installation, a standard eight-lane running track, modern changing rooms, VIP lounges, spectator amenities and terrace seating with seat installation works underway, alongside ample parking and a borehole that ensures a reliable water supply for overall operations.

“This investment is set to unlock significant benefits for Wajir and the wider North Eastern Region, providing a platform for local talent to thrive, stimulating small businesses and fostering social cohesion through sports and community events,” he said.

He said the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration was leading a multi-agency team in delivering the project, ensuring seamless coordination and high standards.

“The Department will also continue to safeguard the facility beyond the celebrations, reinforcing security and preserving it as a safe, vibrant public space for years to come,” he said.

By Anderson Ojwang

The Kenyan Parliament descended into discussing Arsenal Football Club’s Premier League victory and this Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final, while Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni wondered what the celebrations and the hype were all about.

In Parliament, the Speaker, Moses Wetang’ula, a known Arsenal supporter, chided his Manchester United counterpart, saying: “Arsenal are the champions. The Holy Bible tells us that salvation is not judged by longevity. It is just at the moment it happens. And Mwenje is damn right. Arsenal won the league, they are the champions, and they will win the Champions League. Order! Let’s not spend too much of our time discussing Man U, a team that was near relegation last season.”

In Uganda, Museveni said Africans should focus more on jobs, development and poverty eradication than on European football.

Museveni said he was surprised to learn that some people expected him to celebrate Arsenal’s title victory.

“They’re inviting me. Now, the other day, people were telling me that they’re inviting me. One of my people was inviting me to something called Arsenal. I said, ‘What is Arsenal?’ It is a European football club, which I don’t know what they have done, and I should go to celebrate. Celebrate for what? I was a footballer myself. Nobody can tell me about football, but I gave up football in 1966. I am in Uganda. Liberation, poverty, jobs. So please, okay, you can have your Arsenal, you can have those things, but start with the people, please. Start with your own people.”

But back in Kenya’s National Assembly, Budalangi MP Raphael Wanjala lit the flame in the House after he said a fashion shop in Nairobi was packed to the brim with Arsenal fans buying jerseys ahead of the Saturday final.

“Mr Speaker, I have been to a shop right now. I went to buy an Arsenal attire. Mr Speaker, the line that is there, the shop is full, and the shop is called East-West Sportswear on Moi Avenue. Honourable Speaker, Arsenal is the team to watch, and on Saturday we are prepared, all of us, to cheer Arsenal as they win the championship. Thank you,” he said.

Dagoretti South MP John Kiare interjected by declaring his interest as a Manchester United fan and dismissed Arsenal as non-starters.

“I must declare my interest that Manchester United is my team, which I support. That great team remembers when they last won this Premier League. Not teams that won the Premier League when some children who are now adults, grown up, were not even born. They have just won this Premier League by fluke, Mr Speaker, and we know the real champion will be claiming it in the next season. Thank you very much,” he said.

Museveni questioned why Africans should become consumed by foreign football culture while many communities continue struggling with economic hardship.

“How can you be celebrating European clubs when your people don’t have development?” he asked.

Recently, matatu operators went on strike over the fuel hike and paralysed the transport system for two days until the government brokered a deal with the operators.

Hopefully, after Saturday’s game, Kenyans will be waiting for the Assembly to passionately discuss the harsh economy, challenges in education including the disbursement of HELB funds to students and universities, school capitation, and the high cost of fuel.

By Anderson Ojwang

A drop in the ocean and what could be viewed as a slap on the face, after the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) was only given Sh200 million, accounting for 1.67 percent of the political funds owed to it by the government.

The debt, which formed one of the pillars in the formation of the broad-based alliance between the late Raila Amolo Odinga and President William Ruto of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), has seen the government fail to meet its side of the bargain.

Despite the immediate former ODM national chairman, John Mbadi, sitting in the powerful seat of Cabinet Secretary for the Treasury, the funds have not been forthcoming to the party.

ODM party leader Dr Oburu Oginga, on Wednesday during a TV interview, said the government has only disbursed Sh200 million to the party to run its errands.

“Gi e sani gisemiyowa gimoro ma wawuotho godo. Maromo sh200m ma sani wan godo e agulu. Ma watemo organize godo activities magwa (As at now, the government has given us something small for operations. They gave Sh200 million to organise our activities),” he said.

Oburu expressed optimism that the government would factor in additional funds to pay ODM in the new financial year.

“Wa negotiate kod piny owacho mondo kik wadhi e yiero ka waonge pesa. Waparo ni budget ma higani wabiro yudo e gimoro matin (We are negotiating with the government so that we don’t go to the elections with unpaid debts. We hope in this year’s budget we will get something small),” he said.

Recently, in Mombasa during an ODM strategic meeting with elected leaders, ODM’s deputy party leader Simba Arati said before any pre-election coalition, they would demand payment of the Sh12 billion debt from the government.

He said the payment of Sh12 billion in political funds owed to ODM was one of the irreducible minimum conditions before the talks.

“I want to say something here. The debts that the government owes us, kindly our brothers, pay us. We will not have any talks. The government owes ODM, and we want the government to pay us. The minimum irreducible number one item is the Cabinet Secretary for the Treasury, John Mbadi, present here. Kindly pay our money first before we can engage in talks,” he said.

Interestingly and surprisingly, Mbadi, once a loud voice in demanding that the government of President Ruto should pay ODM’s debt, who was present at the strategic meeting, remained silent and ignored the matter altogether when it was raised by the media.

Mbadi, upon assumption of office, has maintained studious silence on the matter and currently prefers to campaign for President Ruto’s second term.

Even after the media asked about the debt, it was Mbadi’s successor, Gladys Wanga, who rose to respond to the question and only confirmed the amount owed to the party.

When Mbadi addressed the media, he gave the topic a wide berth and instead called for the unity of ODM under the leadership of Dr Oburu Oginga as the party leader.

“Our being here is in recognition first that there is always a time to lead and a time to leave others to lead. We have this party. My two colleagues here have been deputy party leaders, while I have been the national party chairman for 10 years. But we were seconded to the government by this party, and so we could not hold the same positions. But there are people who have succeeded us. We must give them support, work with them, and work under them. Because when it comes to the party machineries, they are above us, and we are their subjects. We have come to demonstrate unity in ODM and that ODM is one under the leadership of Dr Oburu Oginga as the party leader,” he said.

Ruto’s tokens

Recently, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua challenged the ODM leadership to request President William Ruto to disburse the Sh12 billion political fund owed to the party by the government.

Gachagua said it was unfortunate that the leadership was driven by tokenism from the President instead of seeking the disbursement of political funds owed to them.

“Instead of going for tokens, kindly ask the President to disburse even half of the amount owed to make the party financially sound. Former party national chairman John Mbadi is the current Cabinet Secretary for Finance. Why can’t he arrange to release funds to ODM? We need a stronger party with a sound financial standing. This is what the party leadership should prioritise,” Gachagua said.

But in a quick response, ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga told Gachagua to give them a break and that they do not want his advice.

“Gachagua should give us a break. He should concentrate on his village party, DCP. He has built his politics on hate and division,” she said.

Parallel funding

In a recent interview, the embattled party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna revealed that the funds and resources being used in the ongoing Linda Ground engagement did not come from the party.

He said the party was owed over Sh12 billion by the government for political party funds, which has negated its operations.

“The money and the resources you see being spent on the ODM rallies called Linda Ground, the monies do not come from ODM headquarters. For me, I can only account for the monies because I am a signatory to the bank accounts. Timothy Bosire is a signatory to the bank accounts. The last money we expended as ODM officially was for the celebration in Mombasa, and it was a fraction of what you saw there,” he said.

Sifuna said there was parallel funding of political activities in the party and they do not know where the funds were coming from.

“For a fact, there is parallel funding for activities clothed in ODM colours, and they go around saying they are ODM delegates.”

Kisumu Women Representative Ruth Odinga supported Sifuna’s concerns over the financing of ODM Linda Ground activities and wondered about the source of money flowing into the party.

“As a signatory to the ODM account, if Sifuna questioned where all the money for choppers, big tents and ODM branded t-shirts and caps in the ‘Linda Ground’ conventions were coming from…”

A new battle front in ODM over the Sh12 billion debt

A new battle front has erupted over the Sh12 billion debt, with Siaya Governor James Orengo criticising the Linda Ground faction for not recognising his legal contribution.

Orengo wrote on his social media platforms: “It is a matter of public record that I personally initiated the legal proceedings on behalf of ODM to determine the funds owed to the party by the Government. The Ksh 12 billion figure exists today only because of the ruling in the case I filed. It is ironical to see the ‘Linda Tumbo’ group now demanding these funds from the President without acknowledging the legal groundwork I laid, choosing instead to target me with personal attacks.”

But in a hard-hitting response, a statement from the party accused Orengo of having reneged on his early promise to act for free on behalf of the party.

The statement said it was important to set the record straight regarding the Political Parties Fund case that the party successfully litigated.

“We have noted the claim by Gov. James Orengo that he personally initiated the matter. With respect, that position is not accurate. The true position, as borne out by the Party’s records, is that the National Executive Committee deliberated on the issue and formally resolved that the case be filed on behalf of the Party. At the material time, Gov. Orengo was brought on board as a senior-ranking member with legal expertise specifically to offer legal services on a pro bono basis,” read the statement.

The statement also accused Orengo of failing to institute the proceedings through his law firm but instead bringing in another law firm.

“That was the clear understanding. However, instead of instituting the proceedings through his own law firm, he conveniently introduced the firm of Ms. Julie Soweto, which ultimately filed the petition. From that point, the character of the engagement shifted from what had been understood as a pro bono undertaking into a contractual legal arrangement,” the statement read in parts.

It went further to state that the law firm was paid Sh40 million for the service.

“Following the Party’s success in the High Court in 2016 and subsequently in the Court of Appeal in 2018, demands for legal fees began to be made. Ms. Soweto’s law firm was paid Kes. 40 million by the party. The demand came as a surprise to everyone, including the Party Leader, the late Raila Odinga. There was nothing ‘PRO-BONO’. The documentary trail in this regard is clear and verifiable, and Hon. Orengo has personally received these payments. There is evidence to that effect,” the statement read.

By Anderson Ojwang

The recent Maseno School 120th anniversary birthed a master plan for prosperity.

After decades of academic dominance in national examinations and sports, Maseno School finally turned its attention to infrastructural development.

At the heart of the rewriting of the Maseno School infrastructural master plan were President William Ruto, the Ministry of Education, the Old Boys Alumni, and the current Maseno School administration.

President Ruto, in his opening remarks, stated: “There are schools that educate students, and there are institutions that shape the destiny of a nation. Maseno School belongs to the latter category. Some 120 years ago, when this institution was founded, the Republic of Kenya as we know it today did not exist. Yet here, at the foothills of Mabungu Hills along the border of present-day Kisumu and Vihiga counties, the foundation of what would become a towering institution of academic excellence was already being laid.”

President Ruto said for 12 decades, Maseno School has stood not merely as a centre of learning but as a living monument to the enduring power of education, discipline, leadership, service and nationhood.

“Generations have passed through these gates carrying the hopes and aspirations of families and a nation searching for its place in history,” he said.

The Anniversary

President Ruto said the anniversary, therefore, was not merely a celebration of longevity; it was a celebration of continuity, institutional excellence and national memory.

“I have been taken around this institution and I have encountered sites that are not merely school landmarks but important monuments of our national heritage. I have seen the historic Oseno tree under which the first six students began their journey. I have visited the house where the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga lived while teaching here between 1943 and 1945. I have also seen the chapel built in 1906 at the very dawn of this institution’s existence. These are not ordinary places; they are living chapters of Kenya’s history,” he said.

Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o said Maseno School’s 120th anniversary was a historic tribute to an institution whose legacy in education, leadership and nation-building remains profound. Maseno has shaped generations of Kenyans.

“It was an honour to join H.E. President William Ruto, alumni, teachers, parents and students in celebrating this enduring heritage. For me, the occasion was also deeply personal, given that my late father Canon Hesbon Nyong’o, my brothers Omondi Nyong’o and the late Prof Aggrey Nyong’o all passed through and served this great institution,” he said.

He said as Kisumu County, they remained committed to supporting Maseno School through the Maseno Municipality as a centre of education, innovation and sustainable growth.

Master plan: Infrastructural game changer

President Ruto thanked the school administration, the board and the alumni for thinking outside the box and looking at a new Maseno that will serve the nation for the next 100 years.

“I like their boldness, thinking and vision. I want to assure you that you have my support. I have been informed that while Maseno’s academic performance continues to rise, some of its support infrastructure has not expanded at the same pace,” he said.

President Ruto said Maseno School’s infrastructural development was a matter that deserved attention because an institution of such stature must be supported to match its historic mission and future responsibility.

“We shall work closely with the administration and the alumni to upgrade its physical infrastructure so that it fully reflects the stature, heritage and standing of Kenya’s premier institutions of learning,” he said.

The new master plan will make it a model centre of excellence, with the government to construct a total of 40 classrooms by the end of the year.

President Ruto said: “Having read the vision of Maseno going into the future and understanding well why you invited me here, William Ruto and friends, because it’s going to be a collaborative effort, we are going to build 40 classrooms to accommodate 1,600 students.”

President Ruto said the Alumni Association had already raised Sh80 million that will be directed towards the construction of the STEM Complex (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).

The President said the Ministry of Education will provide computers for the ICT department of the school.

Also on the menu is the construction of an ultramodern multipurpose hall through a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Education providing Sh40 million while Maseno School will top it up with an additional Sh30 million.

The multipurpose hall is expected to accommodate at least 5,000 people.

President Ruto said the Ministry of Housing was to construct a dormitory to accommodate 2,000 students.

Maseno standing strong

He said Maseno has for 12 decades stood strong, and it was time to upgrade the infrastructure.

“Empires have risen and faded. Governments have changed. Political seasons have come and gone. Yet Maseno has endured, producing leaders, scholars, clergy, scientists, public servants, and patriots who helped shape Kenya and East Africa into what they are today. We honoured that rich legacy today with a pledge to upgrade learning facilities at the institution, some of which were built by Maseno’s founders, the Church Missionary Society, in 1906,” he said.

He said while many schools rise and fall with seasons and circumstances, Maseno has consistently remained among the leading centres of academic excellence in Kenya.

“That consistency is not accidental. It is the product of culture, discipline, institutional pride, and an unwavering commitment to excellence,” he said.