Ruto assures mitumba traders of support and protection

Deputy President William Ruto and other Kenya Kwanza leaders have continued to criticise Raila Odinga over his remark on secondhand clothes.

Ruto assured mitumba traders that the Kenya Kwanza administration will protect and support them.

He said small enterprises will not be brought down by politicians with selfish interests.

“We will support such businesses because they drive our economy and employ more than two million people,” Ruto said.

He spoke on Wednesday during rallies in Mandera, Elwak and Tabaka towns where he held an economic forum.

Ruto is on a weeklong tour of the Northeastern region.

ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang'ula of Ford Kenya led another team in their Western backyard as Rigathi Gachagua camped in Mt Kenya.

Odinga has since refuted the claims, alleging he was misunderstood.

Drumming up support for the bottom-up economic model, Ruto said he will ensure more resources are channelled to the secondhand clothing sector once they ascend to power.

“With support from skilled youth, the sector will anchor the sprouting of the textile industry,” he said.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei and Ababu Namwamba who spoke separately echoed the sentiments.

“It was so unfortunate. Mitumba is one of the businesses by hustlers and that has a contrary attitude towards every hustle in Kenya,” Cherargei said.

The Deputy President said politics of deceit and conmanship had become so pronounced in the country that some politicians were now looking down upon other peoples’ businesses.

“The trickle-down mentality that informs some of these leaders is what is killing innovation and small enterprises in Kenya. It must be rejected,” he said.

Ruto asked the people of Mandera to rally behind a government that will take care of their interests.

“We have been holding county economic meetings across the country because we want to rebuild our economy from the bottom where a majority of the people are,” he said.

Ruto said there was a need for Kenyans to vote for their interests and aspirations.

“Vote for jobs, better health and education for your children. Do not be used as voting machines,” he said.

Garissa Township MP Aden Duale asked Ruto to end extra-judicial killings in Northern Kenya once he assumes office.

“Our youths cannot continue being associated with crime. It is time the government protected its people and their property,” Duale said

For four days, Ruto has been in Garissa, Mbalambala, Modogashe, Habaswein, Hadado, Bute and Kotulo in Wajir and Mandera, Elwak and Takaba drumming up support for Kenya Kwanza.

 

Edited by Kiilu Damaris

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