Inside Politics

Ruto sets anchor at Coast with vow on port revival, new jobs

Friday, May 27th, 2022 03:20 | By
Deputy President William Ruto addresses a rally at Nyali in Mombasa county, yesterday. PD/NDEGWA GATHUNGU

Deputy President William Ruto yesterday continued Kenya Kwanza’s vote hunt mission in Mombasa county, pitching camp in Likoni and Nyali constituencies.

While addressing crowds at various stop-overs, Ruto said his government would revert operations to the Port of Mombasa on August 10, 2022, should he be elected the next president.

Yesterday, Ruto amended part of his Coast itinerary by suspending his programme in the morning to attend the National Prayer Breakfast before resuming the programme in the afternoon, with a rally at Shelly Beach Corner in Likoni followed by another one at Nyali.

Ruto said selfish leaders transferred port operations to Naivasha and to the Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Nairobi against the pact signed during the construction of the standard gauge railway.

Pact with Coast

“I want to tell those who were behind the transfer of port functions so that they satisfy their own interests they benefit their businesses; we have a date with you on August 9. By August 10, we will revert the operations to Mombasa so that 7,000 youth who lost their jobs in Mombasa and other investors can resume their jobs,” he said, adding that he has already signed an agreement with the Coast leadership, including Aisha Jumwa, Hassan Omar, Amason Kingi and the people of the coast.

He laughed at rival Azimio-One Kenya camp for attempting to copy their idea of signing an agreement with coast residents, terming the decision ‘awkward’ since they are already in the ‘handshake’ government.

While promoting his agenda as best suited to offer solutions to the common citizen, Ruto poked holes in his competitor Raila Odinga as one whose main agenda is to change the Constitution, falling short of the expectations of the citizenry.

“Do you want us to embark on a constitutional change process and organise positions, or to fix the economy first and organise your businesses?  Yeah, let’s fix the economy first so that we plan youth employment and do away with poverty,” Ruto said.

“This year, we are going to prioritise the creation of employment for over four million youth by providing Sh100 billion to create employment. We have spoken about employment for decades but this time we are seriously going to walk the talk.”

Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya said Raila cannot be trusted on the promises he gives because, during the coalition government with late President Mwai Kibaki , he never kept his promises.

“If he failed to keep his promises during the coalition government do you think he will do so this time?” asked Mvurya.

And speaking in Baringo county, Ruto’s running mate Rigathi Gachagua pledged to end perennial banditry should they ascend to power in August. Gachagua said the insecurity menace in the North Rift has been politicised, even as he hit out at the Jubilee administration for doing little to alleviate the residents’ suffering.

“What is lacking is political goodwill. When we take over the office, the issue of insecurity in Baringo will be a thing of the past,” said Gachagua. He added: “If we sort out insecurity, Baringo will be sorted. We will ensure the people are economically empowered for them to discard retrogressive practices,” added the Mathira MP.

He drummed up support for UDA’s bottom-up economic model which he said is aimed at empowering common mwananchi economically. “That’s is why we are reaching out to the people through the ongoing economic forums so that we know how we to serve them better,” he said.

He was accompanied by United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Baringo County gubernatorial aspirants Benjamin Cheboi and MPs William Cheptumo (Baringo North), and Charles Kamuren (Baringo South) and Joshua Kandie of Baringo Central.  

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