Ruto to Kericho residents: Get IDs, register and give me 1m votes

President William Ruto continued his South Rift tour Thursday in Kericho making a passionate appeal to the residents to acquire national IDs and register as voters, saying he needs one million votes from the county in the 2027 General Election.

Ruto said development projects being implemented by his administration could only be sustained through the election of leaders capable of planning and delivering on their promises.

Speaking in Buret during his second day tour of the region, the president urged residents to help register those who have not acquired identification documents or are not on the voters’ roll.

“I have one word to tell you, just one word that I want to request you. The presidential seat is won through votes,” Ruto said in local language.

He said projects such as roads, hospitals, water infrastructure and the planned development of Kericho town into a city were linked to the leadership chosen by voters.

“These development projects like roads, hospitals and water, and the city that we want to build here is through votes,” he said.

Ruto urged residents to go into their neighbourhoods and identify people who do not have national identity cards and help them obtain the documents.

“I want to request you, go look for your neighbour who does not have an ID and take him to the chief’s office to get it. Look for that church member and take him to apply for the ID and have them register as voters until everyone has the voter’s card,” he said.

The President then set his target for Kericho, telling residents he wanted one million votes from the county in 2027.

“This Kericho, by 2027 I need one million votes from you,” he said.

Ruto made a similar appeal during his engagements in Bomet on Wednesday, where he asked residents who had not registered as voters to do so.

“I am appealing to the one million people in Rift Valley who have not registered as voters, some of whom have not acquired national identity cards, that your vote matters a lot in the development of this country. Do not take it for granted,” he said.

He questioned why residents would discuss presidential terms and political succession without first ensuring they were registered voters.

“You cannot be talking of two terms or one term when you are not a registered voter. Your job is simple. Sacrifice a day to vote for me on election day, and I will work for you for five years,” Ruto said.

The President also sought to make the voting process appear less burdensome, noting that elections take place only once every five years.

“How many days do you vote in five years? Is it a week, a month? It is only a day. Why does something for just a day trouble you?” he asked.

Ruto said he wanted residents to spread the message to eligible Kenyans who had not obtained IDs or registered as voters.

“Go tell everyone who listens to my language wherever they are to go and get the ID and register as a voter,” he said.

He also linked voter registration to preparing the next generation of leaders, saying voting was not only about supporting his presidency.

“You are not voting for me alone. You are also preparing our future leaders so that when I leave office there will be those who will take over from me,” he said.

Ruto began his four-day tour in Bomet on Wednesday, where he launched, inspected and commissioned several development projects before proceeding to Kericho.

The President has continued to use his engagements in the South Rift to rally residents behind his development agenda while seeking greater voter registration ahead of the 2027 election.