Ruto’s uphill task to deliver campaign pledges to N. Rift
President-elect William Ruto is walking a tight rope in fulfilling pledges Kenya Kwanza made to his Rift Valley backyard as well as ensuring he maintains the image of a national leader.
Residents who spoke to People Daily yesterday lamented that the majority of projects initiated by the Jubilee administration, in which Ruto served with outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta, remained incomplete 10 years later.
Among notable projects that are yet to be completed or have stalled include Kipchoge Stadium in Uasin-Gishu, Kamariny Stadium in Elgeyo Marakwet and Kapenguria Stadium in West Pokot.
“The North Rift region has nothing to show for supporting the Jubilee Government overwhelmingly. Hope Kenya Kwanza led by the Deputy President will not go the same way. Many youths have lost hope due to joblessness,” Vincent Chirchir, a youth leader, said.
During the campaign trail, Kenya Kwanza listed a raft of pledges should they form the next government.
Ruto promised the North Rift region that his administration will set fertilizer prices at Sh2,700 down from the current Sh6,000 if they clinch power.
Farmers have been grappling with the high cost of production, forcing many of them to reduce acreage under maize which in turn threatens food security countrywide.
Rift Valley produced an average of 16 million bags of maize last year as compared to about 21 million the previous season.
“Our priority is to safeguard affairs of the common man and we will ensure that a bag of fertilizer does not exceed Sh2,700,” Ruto told Eldoret residents during their last campaign rally.
He said the Kenya Kwanza administration will also revamp the tea sector to the benefit of small-scale farmers, who will receive attractive prices for their green tea leaves.
Major blow
Farmers have since called on the DP to ensure his administration zero rates imports on farm implements to cushion them from rising production costs should they be sworn into office.
They termed the 14 per cent tax imposed on farming equipment as a major blow and called for reforms that will be beneficial to farmers to increase productivity.
“The 14 per cent tax imposed on farm implements needs to be reviewed to cut down on production costs. There is instead a need to push for additional funds to overhaul the sector into a profitable investment,” James Kwambai, a farmer, said.
The National Treasury imposed the 14 per cent Value Added Tax on farm implements, which came into effect in June 2020 and affected equipment such as ploughs, harrows, planters, sprayers and harvesters.
Farmers have also called on the DP’s administration to allocate at least Sh10 billion to the Agricultural Finance Corporation, which has been offering them affordable loans.
“Farmers grapple with a lot of financial challenges as they have to wait the whole year to sell their produce. Agenda Four will not succeed if farmers are not supported to boost food production,” a farmer from Trans-Nzoia, Samuel Kiptoo, noted.
Residents from banditry-prone counties are also hopeful that the Ruto administration will end the perennial insecurity that has left thousands of people dead over the years.
“The Deputy President understands very well the suffering our people are going through in the hands of bandits. Hope his administration will address this once and for all for us to resume our normal lives,” said Richard Chepchomei, a resident from the banditry-prone Bartabwa in Baringo.
Residents want the new administration to also re-open more than 30 schools closed as a result of insecurity in the region and learners assured of their safety.
Speaking in Kabarnet during their last rally on August 1, Ruto promised to deploy enough security officers to end banditry in Kerio Valley if elected president.
The DP condemned the killings of residents and theft of livestock in parts of the North Rift, saying it shall be a thing of the past when they take office.
Daily activities
The government has already imposed a 30-day curfew in parts of the Kerio Valley and a security operation rolled out.
“I understand the problems facing the people here. I was the one who pushed for the deployment of National Police Reservists in the banditry-prone areas but some cartels used force to have them withdrawn due to political reasons,” Ruto said.
A spot-check by People Daily revealed that celebrations following the DP’s victory in the North Rift have stopped and residents have gone back to their daily activities.
At Sugoi, Ruto’s rural home, GSU has been deployed to guard the residence after he was declared President-elect.
