Bag of goodies in store for Nakuru if Ruto wins
Deputy President William Ruto yesterday promised Nakuru residents a Cabinet Secretary slot and over 40,000 jobs in his administration should he clinch the presidency in the August 9 polls.
Ruto, who spoke in Nakuru yesterday during an economic consultative forum that brought together the Kenya Kwanza strategists, said the goodies would be delivered if he is elected overwhelmingly by the over 1 million voters in the county.
The Deputy President, who was on his first tour of the region days after naming his running-mate, said Nakuru had been left out of government administrations despite voting overwhelmingly and being among the largest economic giants in Kenya.
He added that the county will also have at least 40,000 slots in the public service and more funds would be channeled by his administration through an economic model of bottom-up.
Voting for a job
“Nakuru has been lost in between Rift Valley and Central regions in terms of having a stake in government. I want to assure you that this time around Nakuru will not disappear in thin air. As you vote for us know you are voting for a job for your children and more funds,” said Ruto.
He said his administration will further incorporate the matatu sector more in the multibillion-shilling sector by ensuring their needs are fully met, which include having them seat at the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).
“We want to enrich the manifesto we have for Kenya with inputs, suggestions and ideas from people themselves. We will incorporate all this in the charter we will sign with you and implement the same when in power,” said Ruto.
The DP said they have a clear plan to improve the economy as an alliance urging Kenyans to reject politics of deceit and power-sharing through constitutional review, insisting that economic revival was the safest bet for job creation.
“There are those who are competing with us who want us to continue with the politics of personalities and what will benefit individuals; we want to say as Kenya Kwanza that we will focus on issues and ideas that will benefit Kenyans,” said Ruto.
He added that the political landscape was slowly shifting to issue-based solutions and thus the move to conduct economic consultative forums with the common ‘mwananchi’ to ensure they have a stake in the policies to be implemented.
“We, as Kenya Kwanza, want to unite the country and the only way to do that is to reject political conmanship. That is the only way to ensure leaders and the citizenry are united,” he added.
He added: “If leaders cannot be trusted, they cannot push their transformative agenda and we have a chance to change that on the ballot; you cannot say you want to lead Kenyans and on the other hand you are the biggest conman.”
On his part, Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua said the public engagement was meant to ensure all policies and locals' needs are captured in the economic blueprint.
He said they want to revamp the agriculture sector within the county as one way of integrating the sector’s revival into their economic agenda of bottom-up. “We are also doing a security report of the county and we have mapped Njoro and Molo is the most affected,” said Gachagua.
According to Gachagua, they have received input from dejected police officers who are complaining of poor welfare. “Officers who are pursuing diplomas and degrees, don’t stop, please continue. The next government will respect officers who are educated,” he said.
Amani National Congress party leader Musalia Mudavadi said the Azimio coalition was frustrated, with leaders leaving the outfit. Leaders who accompanied Ruto included Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwa, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, and Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria.
