Ruto pitches camp in coastal counties, offers to solve historic land issues
Deputy President William Ruto yesterday continued his vote hunt in Lamu, Tana River and Kilifi counties, where he asked voters to trust Kenya Kwanza leadership to form the next government and solve land ownership problems in the region.
In his second day tour of the Coast, Ruto reckoned that one of the key priorities of Kenya Kwanza is to ensure the security of land ownership in Coast counties as well as other parts of the country “so as to help drive investment and enhance agricultural productivity through Bottom-Up Economic Development Plan.”
“We have a plan to organise the economy of this country. This, we seek to achieve by reducing the cost of living by empowering local farmers to produce enough food. It is for this reason that we intend to ensure there is the security of land ownership for farmers and further reduce the cost of farm inputs from the current Sh7,000 to Sh2,500,” the Kenya Kwanza presidential flag bearer said while addressing rallies in Faza and Mpeketoni in Lamu County.
But addressing residents at Bayusuf grounds in Hola, and Tarassa in Tana River County, Ruto said his government is cognisant of the current high cost of living and given a chance, his administration will initiate deliberate programmes to end joblessness by investing Sh200 billion annually in the agro-processing, textile industry, leather, manufacturing, value addition and housing in a bid to empower the youth and ensure they are gainfully employed.
He laughed off at Azimio’s view of reviving the economy, terming it as “negative, clueless and short of agenda.”
“The difference between us and the others is that they have no agenda to solve your problems. That is why they wanted to ban second-hand clothes branding them as clothes for the dead. They wanted to ban bodaboda.
They will come here and tell you slogans without telling you how they will solve problems that entangle you,” he said, adding that the Kenya Kwanza government will implement ideas captured in the economic forums conducted across the country.
He was accompanied by former Lamu governor Issa Timamy, Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua, Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki, Laikipia Woman Rep Cate Waruguru and Starehe MP Charles Njagua.
