Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has urged Kenyans to be cautious of political figures attempting to exploit them.
He warned that the country’s political contest is now between development-driven leaders and a discredited lot of leaders bent on sowing division.
Speaking on Friday during the Malindi Constituency Economic Empowerment meeting at Jilore Grounds in Kilifi county, Kindiki said the broad-based government under President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga had placed the country firmly on the development path.
He called on Kenyans not to lose sight of the progress being made.
“We have united under the broad-based government. We are one team focused on development and taking Kenya forward. This is a team driven by Kazi Bila Break,” he said.
Kindiki criticised the opposing camp, claiming they were engaging in outdated politics centred on personalities and empty slogans.
“The other team is clueless. When asked what they plan to do for Kenyans, they say Kasongo one term, Ruto Must Go and other things. That cannot be a manifesto on how to lead Kenya. All of them have failed in their previous jobs,” he said.
He emphasised that the Kenya Kwanza administration is committed to equitable development across the country, unlike their opponents, who, he said, continue to pursue a discriminatory agenda.
Later, while presiding over the Kilifi North Economic Empowerment event at Chumani, Kindiki outlined key government interventions aimed at uplifting livelihoods in the coastal region.
He noted that in just two years, the administration had completed hundreds of projects and launched many others, in line with its national development agenda.
“We are improving critical sectors to ensure most Kenyans receive higher income. The agriculture, livestock, fishing and blue economy sectors are at the centre of the country’s economy and relied on by the majority of Kenyans, and we have improved them significantly,” he said.
The DP revealed that Beach Management Units across the five coastal counties had received more than Sh3.2 billion in grants to grow their businesses and reduce losses.
In addition, he said the government plans to issue deep-sea fishing boats to local fishermen in the coming months.
“The Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho has been instructed by the President to hasten acquisition in order to enable them to make forays in the deep sea and make bigger catches that will bring them more money,” he added.
Kindiki also pointed to the ongoing construction of modern markets across the region, including Shela, Jua Kali, Mazeras, Mtwapa and Watamu markets in Kilifi county.
“This is the first government to invest heavily in the blue economy in a bid to make it more lucrative. We have completed the first fish landing site located at Kichwa cha Kati and another one is coming up in Kilifi town, with more lined up,” he said.
The Deputy President stressed that Kenyans are more interested in tangible improvements to their lives than in political rhetoric.
“We are working from Monday to Monday, January to December. This is what this team is all about. We are not interested in anything else that is not of help to wananchi,” he said.
