- The DP claimed that despite Raila and OKA bosses holding powerful positions in government in the past, they have nothing to show for it.
- He urged the residents, especially the youth, not to gamble with their future at the ballot in the August 9, 2022 general election.
Image: LINAH MUSANGI
Deputy President William Ruto on Friday pitched camp in Ukambani as he stepped up efforts to woo Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s backyard to support his presidential bid.
The DP traversed Kitui, making several stops to address residents and give cash donations to women and youth groups.
He held events at Zombe stadium and later in Mutomo where he donated cash to women and boda boda groups in what he has dubbed as empowerment of the hustlers.
Ruto criticised ODM leader Raila Odinga and OKA bosses, saying they have no vision or hope for the country, whose economy has been battered by Covid-19 and riddled with joblessness.
He claimed the lot has been preoccupied with changing the constitution to create powerful positions for themselves at the expense of the millions of Kenyans who struggle to make ends meet.
“They were changing the constitution to install an imperial president. Do you want an imperial president who will manipulate Parliament and Judiciary?” the DP posed while addressing residents at Zombe stadium.
He claimed despite Raila and the OKA bosses holding powerful positions in government in the past, they have nothing to show for it.
The DP urged the residents, especially the youth, not to gamble with their future at the ballot come August 9, 2022 general election.
“If someone doesn’t have plans on how they will transform your lives, don’t elect that person. You must vote knowing what you are voting for,” he said in Mutomo.
He added, “The present and the future belongs to you. You are the people who’ll decide the next government.”
Ruto claimed other bigwigs have ganged against him because of his firm stance against the BBI and the push to amend the constitution to create positions for few leaders.
His focus, he told the residents, is to create jobs for at least four million joblessness youths, empower small and micro-enterprises and support farmers to improve their production.
“I have said that from next year, we will give Sh30 billion to small scale traders to do their business,” the DP said.
“The way we are giving money through CDF, we shall set aside money so that mama mboga and boda boda riders can get a place to borrow money without being asked for title deeds and logbooks,” he added.
The DP said he is the best person to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta, adding that he will revive the Big Four agenda, which he claimed was stalled by the BBI and handshake between the Head of State and Raila.
Ruto said BBI diverted the government’s attention from the crucial programme which could have created at least four million jobs, ensure food security and brought about universal healthcare.
However, the President has often dismissed the DP’s assertion that the handshake derailed development saying that to the contrary, his administration has achieved milestones since 2018.
Ruto vouched for his bottom-up economic model, saying the blueprint focuses on the majority of Kenyans at the bottom of the pyramid. He denied inciting the youth.
The DP was accompanied by MPs and other politicians from the region and beyond.
They included Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka, Kitui East MP Nimrod Mbai, Mwala’s Vincent Musyoka and former Nairobi deputy governor Jonathan Mueke.
-Edited by SKanyara