We will fix the economy,  create jobs, Ruto pledges

Deputy President William Ruto yesterday took his presidential campaigns to Kiambu County where he sought to assure his supporters that he would win the August 9 election.

Speaking a day after he was cleared to contest for the presidency on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, Ruto said it was by the grace of God that he was cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to contest in the election.

Ruto said many people in and outside the government had hoped that he would not be a candidate in this year’s presidential election.

“I was cleared by the electoral body on Saturday to run for the presidency of our beloved country. The journey has been full of challenges but now I tell the prophets of doom that they have no choice but to face me in the ballot,” he said.

He spoke at Kabete ACK Mother Church where he drummed up support for his bottom up economic model saying that it is the only system which can ensure equity of all Kenyans.

Ruto said that, if elected president, his government would do everything possible to revamp the economy  and create more jobs by enabling a business-friendly environment. 

“As I have always said, my administration plans to allocate Sh100 billion towards housing, manufacturing, value addition and agro-processing, all geared towards job creation for our youth,” he said.

Ward level

Exuding confidence that he would overwhelmingly win the August 9 contest, Ruto reiterated that the election would be about the economy.

“We are trusting God for this journey to be successful so that we can revamp the economy and give hope to the millions of our youth who have no source of income,” he said

Ruto said a Kenya Kwanza administration would offer interest-free loans to all Kenyans who want to start small and medium size enterprises.

“Creating employment for our youth will be our number one priority. We will also take loan facilities to the ward level so that everyone will have access to them,” he said.

On health care, Ruto pledged that his government would ensure every Kenyan will have their health insurance catered for through the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).

“Those of you who will not be able to pay for the insurance will enjoy free services by the government because we will be committed to ensuring that Universal Health Care becomes a reality,” he said.

Ruto was accompanied by his running- mate Rigathi Gachagua, ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi, MPs Githua Wamachukuru, Moses Kuria, Alice Wahome and Kimani Ichung’wa and several civic, parliamentary, senatorial and gubernatorial candidates.

Muturi said the country was reeling in an economic  crisis and that voters were clear on who they want to elect in the August elections.

“There are those vouching for constitutional changes and we who are vouching for economic changes,” he said. 

He added: “We are not fighting anybody. What we are doing is exposing Kenyans to a unique public participation system so that they can tell us what their priorities are and that will help us address them once we form the government.”

Mudavadi said a Kenya Kwanza administration would change the economic fortunes of Kenyans and restore their dignity.

“Poverty is very dehumanising and unjust and that’s why we want to give hope to the downtrodden in society. It is an economic moment and not a constitutional moment,” he said.

North Eastern tour

Gachagua said that should Ruto become president, Mt. Kenya region would regain its economic glory.

“Our government will conclusively address the collapsed dairy, coffee and tea industry thereby ensuring that our people will start having money in their pockets,” he said.

Kuria said: “People might think that we hate and disrespect President Uhuru Kenyatta. They might think that we have betrayed him by supporting Ruto. However, it is he who betrayed us by going contrary to what we agreed in 2013 and 2017.”

Ruto who later addressed a crowd at Uthiru shopping centre, is today headed to Garissa and Wajir counties where he will attend an economic Forum in Garissa Town and later head to Balambala, Modogashe, Lagdera and Habaswein.