Kenya Kwanza leaders rail at Jubilee administration over loans appetite
ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi yesterday took a swipe at the Jubilee administration which he accused of developing a high appetite for loans with no tangible value to the public.
Speaking in Busia, the ANC leader stated that the appetite for loans could as well be a scheme by President Uhuru Kenyatta to leave the country in a mess as he exists.
“Our loan burden amounts was at Sh8 trillion yet President Uhuru on Wednesday pushed it to Sh10 trillion after sensing that the Kenya Kwanza Alliance will form the next government,” he said at Lupida Centre in Nambale constituency of Busia county.
“This is for the obvious reason that we get difficulties running the country. But we are ready for that for we have in our corner great economists who will navigate us out of the mess once we assume office “ He blamed the Uhuru-leaning parliamentarians for sidelining a Bill by Nambale MP Sakwa Bunyasi, a Kenya Kwanza-leaning MP, which could help the country borrow wisely.
The bill was set to among other things create a Public Debt Management Authority as an independent agency to manage Kenya’s loans.
Mudavadi hit at Azimio leader Raila Odinga whom he tagged ‘a Uhuru project’ as a candidate who could not turn around the debt-driven mess in the country as he was past his prime. Out of touch
“The other day he (Raila) read his manifesto which had something to do with doing away with mitumba (second-hand clothes) and could not tell doing away with that could render millions jobless a clear indication he is out of touch with his former self,” said Mudavadi who was accompanied by Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetangula and former Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba among other leaders who spent the entire day at Busia drumming up support for a William Ruto presidency.
On his part, Ruto’s running-mate Rigathi Gachagua urged Mt Kenya East voters to back the Kenya Kwanza Alliance. Speaking in Meru and Embu counties, Gachagua said the Alliance had the best to take the country forward after August.
He noted that Meru had lagged behind for long on agriculture, promising to turn local farmers’ fortunes if they were elected. “We shall ensure that there are guaranteed minimum returns for the product for the farm produce,” said Gachagua. He hit out at the Azimio political outfit led by Raila saying they have nothing to offer residents.
Gachagua stated that their government will ensure there was a market for miraa adding it was one of the highest income earners for Meru farmers.
“Kenya Kwanza ambassador to Somalia will come from Nyambene so that we can ensure a market for our miraa,” he said. He blamed Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya, who is leading Azimio campaigns in the area, for failing to address miraa farmers’ woes.
“If Raila, Uhuru and Peter Munya have been in government and they have never addressed the challenges of miraa farmers, what do they have to offer now and they had all the time?” he posed.
The outgoing Mathira lawmaker also urged Meru residents to elect the leaders allied to Ruto to ensure he gets enough members to help him achieve what residents want.
