Coast Leaders List Conditions for Backing Ruto’s 2027 Re-Election

Political leaders from Kenya’s Coast region have said their support for President William Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid will depend on the completion of stalled development projects.

Governors from Taita-Taveta, Tana River, Lamu, Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa met the President and pressed him to prioritise infrastructure, land reforms and healthcare, saying progress in these areas would determine their political backing. They said the region expected firm action rather than renewed pledges.

Likoni MP Mishi Mboko, speaking for leaders aligned with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), said the party was ready to support Ruto’s two-term presidency but expected political reciprocity in the future. She noted that ODM leaders anticipate backing former Mombasa governor Hassan Joho for the presidency in 2032.

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, who is also ODM’s deputy party leader, said the party had developed a ten-point agenda to present to the President. Speaking at a public event in Mombasa, he said ODM intended to either form the next government or be part of it after the 2027 election.

President Ruto sought to reassure Coast leaders of his administration’s commitment to the region during a meeting at State House in Mombasa. He said the government would revive key stalled projects, including the dualling of the Mombasa–Malindi and Mombasa–Lunga Lunga highways. He also pledged faster issuance of title deeds, expanded access to education, and the elevation of a coastal hospital to national referral status.

At the same event, the President launched a youth empowerment programme targeting young entrepreneurs in the Coast region. Under the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (Nyota) initiative, 5,880 youths from Mombasa, Kwale and Taita-Taveta received Sh139.5 million in start-up funding. Each beneficiary received Sh25,000 in the first phase, with a second instalment planned to raise the total to Sh50,000.

The funds were issued after compulsory business training aimed at improving the sustainability of the ventures. The Nyota programme targets 121,000 young entrepreneurs nationwide as part of efforts to promote self-employment and reduce youth unemployment.

In addition to start-up capital, the programme includes an on-the-job training component. About 90,000 participants will be placed with experienced craftsmen in trades such as carpentry, plumbing and electrical work for six months. Each trainee will receive a monthly stipend of Sh6,000 during the placement period.

The engagements with Coast leaders and the rollout of youth-focused programmes reflect the government’s effort to strengthen political support while addressing economic challenges in the region. Coast leaders have maintained that continued cooperation with the national government will depend on visible progress in development commitments.