Uhuru to tour Ukambani in a charm offensive mission dangling billions of shillings worth of projects

President Uhuru Kenyatta will on Tuesday embark on a two day tour of the Lower Eastern region.

The President, will be accompanied by his deputy, William Ruto and several Wiper MPs affiliated with Jubilee party.

Uhuru will commission a raft of multi-billion-shilling road, water and health projects in Kitui and Makueni counties on Tuesday and Wednesday.

State House Spokesman, Manoah Esipisu, through his twitter handle said roads to be launched in Ukambani include the Kibwezi – Mutomo- Usweini connecting to Tsekuru.

“On Tuesday, President will return to the Lower Eastern region to deliver on a pledge he made a few months ago” Manoah twitted.

Uhuru is expected to begin his tour on Tuesday at Mutomo market in Kitui South where he will launch construction work for the Kitui-Kibwezi road.

"The Kibwezi-Mutomo-Kitui-Usweini-Taikuru road is one in a number of key arteries that the government has invested in" Manoah tweeted.

The road is estimated to cost KSh23.5 billion in its first phase while the entire road project is expected to cost Sh50 billion.

In 2013, the Kitui-Kibwezi road project was one Jubilee’s number one pledge campaigns and is crucial in unlocking the region’s economic potential.

High on president Uhuru radar too is the Ksh52 billion Thwake multi-purpose dam at the confluence of Athi and Thwake rivers, the biggest dam ever conceived in East and Central Africa.

"Other projects to be highlighted include Masinga-Kitui Water & Sanitation project, which will provide water to 180,000 residents of Kitui "  Manoah tweeted.

The mega dam is a Vision 2030 flagship project, and once complete is expected to generate 23 megawatts of hydro power, supply piped water for domestic use as well as serve the proposed Konza techno city and adjacent towns.

Some of Ukambani leaders who are expected to accompany Uhuru include. Machakos governor, Alfred Mutua, Mbooni MP, Michael Kisio, Mwingi Central MP, Joe Mutambu, and Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) board chairman Professor Philip Kaloki.

Last week Uhuru was in a similar tour of the central region, launching developments projects and drumming up support for Jubilee party ahead of 2017 election.

Uhuru hopes to use the tour to also charm the residents of Ukamabani to vote for Jubilee come 2017. Eastern has largely been an opposition zone and voted overwhelmingly for Cord leader, Raila Odinga in the last presidential elections.

"The President will make several stops which traverses three counties to speak to residents & local leaders listening to needs & concerns "  Manouh  tweeted