Ruto says leaders coalescing around Raila keen to safeguard vested interests   » Capital News

THIKA, Kenya, Nov 13 – Deputy President William Ruto has said Kenyans should  not be coerced to support particular candidates ahead of 2022 general election.

He said some individuals who were forcing some leaders to rally behind Opposition leader Raila Odinga were only interested in safeguarding their interests at the expense of millions of Kenyans.

Speaking in Thika Town during his empowerment tour of Kiambu County on Saturday, Dr Ruto said some leaders agenda was only to secure power for their own interests and survival.

“Most of the leaders you see coming together have no interest of ordinary Kenyans. Their only interest is political posts to protect their interests,” he said.

Present were MPs Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu), Patrick Wainaina(Thika Town), Isaac Mwaura, John Njuguna Kawanjiku (Kiamba), George Koimburi (Juja), Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu) , Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira), Aden Duale (Garissa Town), Sylvanus Osoro (South Mugirango) and Irungu Kangata (Muranga).

Others were former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu and former Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a.

Dr Ruto said many leaders were not interested in economic wellbeing of Kenyans and had no manifesto to show what they will do once they ascend to power.

He said the bottom up economic model was the only sure way of safeguarding interests of ordinary Kenyans.

“There is no greater priority in Kenya than to get rid of unemployment affecting millions of our youths ,” said Dr Ruto

Dr Ruto said some leaders were in panic mode after realizing that the bottom up economic model was auguring well with Kenyans and their needs.

He said most leaders were wasting time talking negatively about William Ruto instead of selling their agenda to Kenyans.

“Before we change the Constitution to create more positions for leaders, we have to create jobs and  guarantee future of our youths,” said Dr Ruto.

Dr Ruto noted that Odinga development track record was unknown, saying he is well known for rhetoric.

“The guarantee and security of our future is the youths, we have to invest in programs that will guarantee jobs to them,” said Dr Ruto

The Deputy President also made stopovers at Ngoriba, Gatuanyaga, Makongeni and Kiganjo grounds.

Meanwhile, Dr Ruto pledged to set aside Sh150 billion when he becomes President to economically empower the lives of ordinary citizens if he ascends the presidency.

“Our bottom up plan combined with big four will work next year, biggest priority is to address unemployment among young people, ” he said

He said  Sh100 billion would be invested towards programs that directly create jobs and opportunities to unemployed youths.

Another Sh50 billion would be set aside for small and medium entrepreneurs to access cheap loans to expand their businesses.

Dr Ruto said his government would strive to save small scale traders and other Kenyans from costly credits, mobile loans and shylocks.

The MPs on the other hand, warned Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu against disrespecting the Deputy President.

Ichung’wa accused Ngilu of graft.

He said the level of corruption witnessed during her tenure in government institutions was intorelable.

The legislator noted that Ngilu had numerous graft cases and had since transfered her corruption dealings to Kitui County.

He cited the burning of records at Kitui as Ngilu’s  efforts to cover up corruption dealings at the county.

Nyoro told Interior PS Karanja Kibicho to stop undermining and insulting Kenyans, adding that he has become too arrogant.

Duale said Ngilu was  the most corrupt civil servant in the country, implicated in corrupt deals when she served in President’s Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta’s governments.

He said during her tenure, she was responsible for the burning of National Water Corporation and KEMSA offices, when she was Water and Health Minister as part of efforts to conceal evidence.

“You have no moral authority to lecture us on matters corruption. You are among the most corrupt in this country,” said Duale

Osoro said Ngilu was known to have incited locals to set fire on vehicles owned by traders from Central Kenya region.

He also reminded Kibicho that his tenure was coming to an end, noting that he had become “arrogant and drunk with power”.

Gachagua said the only sure bet for ordinary Kenyans was Dr William Ruto who has pledged to empower them starting from bottom going up.

Waititu said there should be no sacred cows in the fight against corruption and those implicated should be arraigned in court.

Kangata said those who caused chaos during Dr Ruto visits in Kisumu, Kieni and Busia should be apprehended adding  there was selective application of the law