- President said Kenyans will start to feel changes with a new Cabinet in place; no region will be left out because it did not vote for him.
- Gachagua assured Kenyans that the Kenya Kwanza government is committed to reducing the cost of living.
President William Ruto on Sunday said his Kenya Kwanza administration will not discriminate against any region in development.
Regions that did not vote for him will be treated fairly and receive the benefits they need, he said.
“We will work for the people of Kenya in their entirety without looking at who they voted for or what regions they come from,” he said.
Kenyan administrations have a history of deliberately neglecting regions that did not vote for them and rewarding those that did.
He said his government is faced with financial difficulties but assured that things will change for the better with a new Cabinet in place.
“Just give us a little bit of time and things will get back on track,” the President told congregants at a church service in Kenol, Murang’a.
Ruto recalled the Jubilee administration had promised to build 57 dams but only managed to construct five.
"We did not succeed because somebody interfered with the plans. I don’t want to delve into that. Since we have lost a lot of time, we must hurry up and the minimum mega dams we will build will be 100,” he said.
Ruto said the dams are needed to provide water for irrigation, domestic use and livestock.
The President said the government will commission the construction of 2,000 affordable houses in Murang’a next week.
Ruto further warned that the drought situation will get worse unless climate change is addressed.
“Climate change is a problem we must address because it has a direct impact on the economy,” he said.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua assured Kenyans that the Kenya Kwanza government is committed to reducing the cost of living.
“Prices of basic commodities have started to go down and that is a good sign. The price of maize flour is going down, as well as that of cooking gas,” he stated.
“We are looking for long-term solution. We will not lower prices for one day just to please people. We will be looking for long term solutions. We will provide affordable fertiliser and prices of food will go down. Just give us a few months and you will see the changes.”
Water Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome called on the President to fully support his ministers in execution of their mandates.
“I know I will have your support. I have heard you say that government will partner with private organisations to provide water to Kenyans.
“We want to encourage you to be persons who will be guided by good governance. We know that impunity was the order of the day in the last regime and we know that you will not allow your government to walk that road.”
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro said farmers across the country are appreciative of the government’s efforts to lower the cost of fertiliser.
“Coffee and tea farmers are happy. I know that you will help even more. Fertiliser is an input just like pesticides and many others,” he said.
He asked government to ensure fertilisers are readily and easily available to farmers when they need them.
“I have talked to farmers and they are ready to hire vehicles to go to depots to pick fertiliser for themselves,” he said.
(Edited by V. Graham)