Shun Raila to grow economy, Ruto says
Deputy President William Ruto has asked voters in Nyanza to reject former Prime Minister and Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga claiming he wants to change the constitution if elected.
The DP, who led the Kenya Kwanza team for vote hunt in various parts of Kisii and Nyamira counties yesterday claimed Raila wants to revive the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) if elected in the August 9 polls to create positions for his relatives and cronies.
“Proponents of “reggae” wanted to change the constitution and create powerful positions for individuals but the reggae was stopped by the courts. There is God in heaven. They want to do it if they win,” he said.
He claimed the BBI derailed the implementation of the Big Four Agenda— Housing, Health, Manufacturing and Agriculture — the legacy projects he initiated with President Uhuru Kenyatta after their reelection in 2017.
Create jobs
While campaigning in Nyakoe, Kitutu Chache South and Nyaguta, Nyaribari Chache constituencies, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential candidate said they had planned to create about five million jobs for educated youths but all the plans were dashed by the March 2018 Handshake between President Uhuru and Raila.
“The major problem facing the youths is lack of jobs and money to start businesses to improve their lives. If elected president, I will allocate Sh100 billion to create jobs for them,” Ruto told his supporters in the Nyakoe market, stressing Kenyans want the economy to improve.
Ruto dismissed claims that Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja is not qualified to vie for the Nairobi Governor seat saying his academic documents were clean, genuine and available.
Ruto told Kenyans that the controversy surrounding the clearance of the senator by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was orchestrated by their rivals after sensing defeat.
“Let me tell them that whether they like it or not, Sakaja will be on the ballot because he has all the required qualifications required by IEBC for one to qualify and vie for the governor seat,” he added.
High prices
He instead alleged that Raila had no university degree.
“I am challenging the Deep State, who belong to the Azimio bandwagon to come out and tell us which university their presidential candidate attended, the course he pursued, when he graduated and who are his classmates,” Ruto said at Esoko and Nyakoria towns in Nyamira county.
The DP was accompanied by Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi, MPs Silvanus Osoro, (South Mugirango), Ezekiel Machogu (Nyaribari Masaba), Senatorial candidate Joash Maangi, parliamentary candidates Justin Nyagami (Kitutu Chache South), Zaheer Jhander (Nyaribari Chache and Woman rep candidate Teresa Bitutu.
He said if elected, his government will subsidise prices of fertilizer from Sh6,000 per bag to Sh2,000 to enable farmers to increase agricultural production.
The DP appealed to Kenyans to gauge the presidential candidates and elect them based on their development records as he drummed up support for Machogu who is eying the Kisii governor’s seat.
“Do not gamble with your votes. Elect leaders with a track record. Do not elect leaders who are imposed on Kenyans during meetings in hotels,” Ruto said, adding that if he forms the next government, he would ensure that development is done fairy nationally.
Mudavadi alleged that the Handshake isolated Ruto from the running of government, adding Kenya Kwanza are firm and will address the plight of Kenyans if they take over power after Uhuru retires.
“Life is hard. Kenyans cannot afford the price of maize flour and fertilizer. Kenya Kwanza will reverse the trend,” Mudavadi said at Nyakoe.
Osoro urged residents not to fight over the presidential candidates but allow them to sell their policies so that they can decide on the best candidate to elect during the polls.
“We do not have a presidential candidate. Do not fight because of the candidates. Let them sell their policies and make informed decisions,” Osoro told the rally as he urged them to elect UDA candidates to work with Ruto if he is elected president.
He claimed that youths engaged in Kazi Kwa vijana programme were supposed to be paid Sh1,000 per day but were being given Sh450, alleging that Sh550 was being channelled to the Azimio la Umoja campaigns.
