Ruto condemns closure of Keroche
Deputy President William Ruto yesterday criticised the government for closing down Keroche Breweries in Naivasha, claiming the move was politically motivated.
Speaking at Nyamache Green Stadium and Kenyenya, in Kisii county, he said the move has rendered more than 3,000 people who depend on the company jobless.
“Your days are numbered. You cannot close down a business because of politics. The people are anti-business and want to destroy thriving local businesses,” Ruto told the rally at Kenyenya.
He also lashed out at Azimio-One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga for alluding that second hand clothes (mitumba) would be banned, saying it is possible for second hand imports to flourish alongside locally made textiles.
Ruto said if elected, he would reduce National Hospital Insurance Fund premiums from Sh500 to Sh300, adding that the poor would access healthcare services for free.
He said the government had equipped Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital with Renal, Intensive Care Unit and radiology equipment worth Sh800 million, tarmacked 400km and increased technical training institutes from three to five, connected 140,000 households to the national grid, adding if elected, all households will be connected.
He said he would allocate Sh50 billion for small-scale traders to access low interest loans and support farmers with subsidised farm inputs to enhance food security. “Farmers will get seeds, fertiliser, markets for their agricultural produce. We will also remove cartels to avoid exploitation of farmers by middlemen,” Ruto said.
Affordable loans
ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi deplored increasing prices of food stuff and fuel saying if Ruto is elected president in the August polls, they will reduce the prices to ease the suffering of Kenyans. “He wants to close mitumba and he wears a suit from London. Does he want you to walk naked? It is not possible.”
Wetang’ula claimed that the government was increasing prices of food stuff and fuel to raise funds for political campaigns.
Separately, Ruto’s running Rigathi Gachugua led a host of the Kenya Kwanza brigade on campaign trail to Limuru, Lari and Githunguri sub-counties in Kiambu where they drummed up support for the bottom up economic model. The leaders asked Azimio to be prepared for defeat.
The Mathira MP, while exuding confidence of winning election in the first round, dismissed Azimio as a union of old guard with nothing new to offer Kenyans.
“Without malice or prejudice, the leader of our competitors is approaching 80 which means he can hardly handle long hours of Cabinet meetings,’’ he said.
He said should Ruto clinch the presidency, his government will address all the ills affecting the common man which include availing affordable loans and creating jobs.
Gachugua outlined plans to revamp the agriculture, manufacturing, industrial and housing sectors to revamp the economy.
He was accompanied by the three Kiambu governor candidates under Kenya Kwanza led by Kimani Wamatangi (UDA), Moses Kuria (Chama Cha Kazi) and William Kabogo of Tujibebe Wakenya, who displayed intolerance as each vouched for their election. Others in the campaign trail were senators Kipchumba Murkomen and Isaac Mwaura, Starehe MP Charles Jaguar and a host of MP and MCA candidates.
Corruption dragon
Kabogo said he joined Kenya Kwanza because its ideals resonate with the wishes of the common man, adding the colaition has the solutions for all the problems facing the country. “I decided to work with the Ruto because he understands life is not about tarmacked roads only but what Kenyans want is money in their pockets.”
Wamatangi, who is the area senator, said Kenya Kwanza coalition will transform the country and slay the corruption dragon, which he described as a cancerous malady entrenched in all sectors. He said if elected governor, he would ensure that the county regains it’s lost glory.
Kuria took a swipe at Raila whom he said has lost political relevance among the people from the central region. “He was hiding behind the president but when Uhuru failed to campaign for him, he is now hiding behind Martha Karua and this can’t turn tables for him.”
- Reports by Robert Ochoro, Clement Kamau, Evans Nyakundi
