DP pledges Sh100m annual kitty for small, grassroots economies
Deputy President William Ruto yesterday pledged a Sh100 million annual kitty from the government to support the small and grassroots economies in Mtwapa Kilifi County as he wound up his three days visit to the coastal region.
Ruto in his tour said this time the government should rethink allocating a similar kitty like the National Government Constituency Development fund NCDF that would support small businesses within grassroots level as a new strategy to grow the economy.
“Just the way the government sets aside Sh100 million for every year for every constituency, to build schools and development, we want to set aside Sh100 million every year to support hustlers, so that they can improve their livelihoods, there is no way we can eradicate poverty without allocating money to boost local economies,” Ruto said.
Ruto who attended Sunday service at the ACK, All Saints' Church, Mtwapa Parish, Kilifi South and Kilifi County and later interacted with residents of Mtwapa was accompanied by Kilifi North MP Owen Baya and Malindi counterpart Aisha Jumwa.
“Let us continue to build peace in this country. And that is why we are changing the discussion about building the economy from the bottom-top, so that we can have people sit together regardless of social class and discuss issues,”Ruto said.
His tour of Kwale, Kilifi and Mombasa counties over the weekend, accompanied by over 20 MPs comes at a time when coastal leaders led by Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and his Kilifi counterpart Amason Kingi are pushing for coastal unity.
However the duo’s efforts to unite the region, through the formation of a own political party, is facing a very uphill task as most influential politicians are now opting to join the newly-founded United Democratic Alliance (UDA) associated with Ruto.
On Monday the duo are said to have failed to convince a section of legislators from the Coast to join the regional outfit.
This is after it emerged that there is still push and pull on whether they ditch ODM or stay in the party ahead of the next General Election.
“This narrative about Kenyans of low class to be remembered by the Upper class is the path we should follow, this is in the Bible, we urge all Kenyans to stand firm with the deputy president in this journey and we shall deliver,”Baya said, drumming support for DP Ruto.
The unity bid pushed by Joho and Kingi was down played by Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa,Nyali Mohamed Ali, Lunga Lunga MP Khatib Mwashetani and Benjamin Tayari of Kinango who accompanied the DP during the tour.
