• Mumias and Nzoia Sugar will not be sold. Debts to state by sugar factories will be cancelled. Farmers will be paid on time.
• New varsity funding model will give scholarships to learners.
Image: PCS
President William Ruto on Saturday said privatisation of some State-owned enterprises in the country has been halted.
He dismissed claims some State Corporations were on sale.
President Ruto said, however, said management of poorly run entities will have to be changed.
“Our focus is not on the sale but their remodelling to make them perform better," he said.
He was speaking in Malava town on Saturday at Ngenyilel grounds in Nandi county after he launched the upgrading of 65km roads linking the area and Uasin Gishu county.
He launched the 13kmalava-Kimang’eti-Ikoli Road.
This is part of the more than 250km of roads the Government is upgrading in Kakamega county.
The President insisted that neither Mumias Sugar Company nor Nzoia Sugar Company will be put in private hands.
He said all Government debts in public-owned sugar factories will be cancelled.
He explained, the Government will agree with the public on the injection of fresh and innovative ideas that will resuscitate the sugar firms.
“We want these corporations to make money and ensure we pay our farmers their dues in time," Ruto said.
The President said he was keen on the resuscitation and commercialisation of agriculture to boost food production.
Meanwhile, President Ruto said he will not accept destruction of property in the name of protests.
He said Opposition leaders were given the opportunity to present their grievances in Parliament but instead they are misusing the chance.
“I want to tell them that they are tempting the untemptable. If they have any issue, they should follow the law," President Ruto said.
He said issues of elections were over, saying it was time to unite Kenyans and deliver on promises made during the election.
"Nobody in this country has the licence to cause chaos and anarchy. All of us must observe the rule of law," he said.
At the same time, the President said, the Government plans to come up with a new funding model for universities and other institutions of higher learning.
He said the current funding model was not meeting the needs of learners.
"We are coming up with a new funding model for universities. We want to change from giving money to universities to giving scholarships to students," the head of state said.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi told Opposition leader Raila Odinga to come to terms to the fact that majority of Kenyans elected Dr Ruto as their President.
"We heard former President Uhuru Kenya saying Kenyans made their decision during the last election and he handed over power to President William Ruto. Mr Odinga should stop playing with the intelligence of Kenyans," Mudavadi said.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Governors Ken Lusaka (Bungoma), Jonathan Bii (Uasin Gishu), Stephen Sang (Nandi), Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, Samson Cherargei (Nandi), Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu) and Chief Whip Silvanus Osoro, among other MPs were present.
The legislators told Opposition leaders to respect the will of Kenyans.
"Kenyans have moved on after the last general election and have said no to demonstrations," Tigania East MP Mpuri Aburi said.
(Edited by V. Graham)