Bottom-up approach will encourage handout culture, says Kalonzo

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has trashed Deputy President William Ruto's bottom-up economic model saying the approach will encourage a culture of handouts.

Speaking during an impromptu tour of Mwingi town on Saturday, Kalonzo said Ruto's economic model is not sustainable and would not take the country to greater heights of prosperity.

“This bottom-up economic model is nothing but a handout economic model. He should just say Kenyans should go to harambees that we used to have back in the days,” he told a crowd that had gathered at the Mwingi bus park.

Kalonzo said it is regrettable that leaders get their wealth corruptly and turn around to use the looted money to give handouts to endear themselves to voters when elections approach.

“The time to end corruption has come. Do not elect a leader just because he gives you handouts,” he said as he affirmed that his name will be on the ballot come 2022.

Ruto has defended the model, saying it is aimed at creating jobs and that it will have more benefits than the trickle-down economic system which breeds cartels.

He says the bottom-up is anchored on deliberately promoting investments and financial investments targeting the millions who are unemployed, small-scale traders and farmers.

In May, the Deputy President announced that he had formulated a "hustlers economic blueprint" set to be unveiled in December. It is poised to employ the bottom-up economic model.

Ruto further insists that the bottom-Up Economic Plan will deliver Kenyans from the yoke of selfish political leaders.

He said under this new model, the government’s priority will be the needs of the ordinary people as opposed to those of leaders.

Kalonzo promised that his presidency will get rid of corruption and create wealth for all Kenyans.

The Wiper leader added that the poverty and unemployment facing majority of Kenyans are as a result of corruption.

Kalonzo further queried the source of wealth of the Deputy President.

He said Ruto's salary is only Sh1.2 million but during the last visit to Kitui county, he managed to contribute over Sh10 million.

He reiterated that he will not play second fiddle to any other leader come August polls since he will be going for the presidency.

Kalonzo is a principal in the One Kenya Alliance whose other members include Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), Gideon Moi (Kanu) and Moses Wetang'ula (Ford Kenya).

All four have declared that they will be taking a stab at the presidency.

-Edited by SKanyara