- He was in Kilifi to popularise his ‘hustler’ movement.
- He says bottom-up economic approach seeks to create jobs and employment for the youths.
Image: ELIAS YAA
Deputy President William Ruto has downplayed a proposal by ODM leader Raila Odinga to issue Sh 6000 per month to the unemployed youths in the country.
Ruto, who was in Kilifi to popularise his ‘hustler’ movement, said handouts will not solve the unemployment challenges currently bedevilling the nation.
“What these youths need is employment and businesses that can take them to the next level in life and not handouts which will not sustain them. Handouts will not improve the Kenyan economy,”Ruto said.
The DP said over 4 million youths have certificates, diplomas and degrees, but have no employment.
“The priority number one should be these youths who have no employment. The second thing is the women and men who are in the small and medium enterprises. These people are being listed in CRB because of mobile loans. They need a fund that will empower them to do business without being threatened by debt collectors,” he said
Both Ruto and Raila are fronting economic models aimed at enticing the youth to vote for them in the 2022 General Elections.
Ruto said the bottom-up economic approach seeks to create jobs and employment for the youths.
“Those who say the bottom-up approach is not possible should remember that I am the Deputy President of this country and I helped President Uhuru Kenyatta to build the railway and other major infrastructure projects. It is doable,” he said.
The DP said he is ready to face those who despise him.
He was accompanied by Kilifi North MP Owen Baya, Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa, Kinango MP Benjamin Tayari and Tana River Women Rep Rehema Hassan.
Earlier on, he visited Gongoni in Magarini subcounty, Vitengeni in Ganze and Kidutani in Kilifi South.
Speaking in Vitengeni in Ganze constituency, Ruto said the 2022 contest would be between those who want to amend the Constitution to create more positions in government and those who want to restore the economy.
He asked Kenyans to reject hypocritical leaders as their only concern is themselves.
“Our children have gone to school but they have no jobs. They are the people who need to be given priority and not politicians. Farmers and traders are also the people who should be considered first,” he said.
Ruto claimed that Raila was among leaders who had no problems with a revenue sharing plan that would have seen allocations to Kilifi county reduce.
“I rejected that plan. The person who wanted it was him. When he comes here, ask him that question. Ask him how he expected you to develop when allocations to your county are reduced.”
He accused ODM leader Raila Odinga of being hypocritical in his election pledges.
The 2022 elections have been hinged on the country’s economic revival and leaders are coming up with approaches to uplift livelihoods.
Raila sparked debate when he pledged a Sh6,000 monthly stipend to all jobless Kenyans should he clinch the presidency.
He has promised to ensure the youth have access to public jobs and tenders if he wins next year’s presidential election.
He also promised to put in place a conducive environment for innovators and entrepreneurs to thrive.
He has further pledged to fully implement the policy of awarding the youth 30 per cent of government tenders and appoint at least four youths to the cabinet and other top government offices should he become president.
ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi has accused Raila of making unrealistic promises with a view of hoodwinking voters ahead of the next year's poll.
Mudavadi said some leaders had resorted to populist politics as opposed to advancing their realistic agenda for the nation.
Mudavadi, in particular, took issue with Raila's promise to unemployed Kenyan youths.