ELDORET, Kenya — President William Ruto has been formally installed as an elder of the Iteso community and bestowed the traditional name “Ojokotau” by His Royal Highness Papa Emorimor Paul Sande Emolot Etomeileng III.
The ceremony was held at State Lodge in Eldoret during a meeting between the President and Iteso grassroots leaders, bringing together community representatives for discussions centred on unity, inclusion and the future of the community.
The conferment of the traditional name and elder status marked a significant cultural moment, as the Iteso community welcomed President Ruto into its traditional leadership structure.
The gesture also underscored the importance of cultural identity and the role of traditional institutions in fostering unity and strengthening relationships between communities and national leadership.
Speaking during the gathering, President Ruto said the country was approaching a critical political period, describing the 2027 General Election as “decisive and consequential.”
He said the coming election should provide an opportunity for Kenyans to move beyond politics characterised by division, fragmentation and marginalisation and instead embrace a new approach centred on unity, inclusion and national transformation.
President Ruto pledged to work towards a political environment in which every community and region feels recognised and included in the country’s development agenda.
He said his vision was to promote a Kenya where opportunities and development are not concentrated in particular regions or communities, but are extended across the country so that no one is left behind.
The President’s remarks to the Iteso grassroots leaders placed emphasis on the need for unity at both the community and national levels, particularly as political competition intensifies ahead of the next General Election.
The traditional installation also provided an opportunity to highlight the importance of cultural recognition in strengthening relationships between national leaders and communities.
By accepting the honour and the name Ojokotau, President Ruto became the recipient of a traditional title that carries cultural significance within the Iteso community.
The event brought together traditional leadership and grassroots representatives in a setting that combined cultural recognition with political engagement, reflecting the continued role of community structures in Kenya’s public life.
As the country looks ahead to the 2027 General Election, President Ruto’s message was one of inclusion and shared national purpose. He called for an end to approaches that deepen divisions among communities and regions, advocating instead for unity and transformation that benefits all Kenyans.
The President’s pledge comes as political leaders across the country continue to engage communities and grassroots leaders ahead of the next electoral contest.
For the Iteso community, the occasion was both a cultural and political engagement, marked by the installation of President Ruto as an elder and the conferment of the name Ojokotau.
The ceremony concluded with a renewed emphasis on unity, inclusion and a shared commitment to a Kenya in which every community and region has a place in the country’s development.
President Ruto’s message was clear: the road to the 2027 election should be defined not by division and exclusion, but by unity, inclusion and a transformation that reaches every part of Kenya.
